HER SISTER (18+) (GXG)

Time & Healing

The weather was just as warm as I'd recalled—the ocean peacefully gliding in and out at shore while a soft chatter of people filled the calm air.

Everything was exactly as we'd left it.

Except it wasn't us returning back to it.

Just me.

For the second time.

Islamorada was always beautiful to me, but without her here with me, it seemed to feel dull.

I had been doing so well—but I knew upon returning to the island, I would be flooded with memories of her.

And it seemed to be worse this time without Mya by my side.

Even now, with the spring semester over and summer break on the way—we still haven't made our comeback.

And there wasn't necessarily a negative reason.

I had just been so caught up in school and focusing on myself and therapy that time seemed to fly around me.

I don't know what exactly she's been up to, but from vague mentions from Mya or Ryder, it seems like she's doing really well.

Apparently, she's set to collaborate with a team to sell some of her popular pieces globally.

She'd also been hanging out with her friends who had recently settled back into LA, which Ryder had briefly mentioned.

And she's been really into the fashion side of LA, which didn't seem to surprise me.

"Ana!"

I suddenly glanced over my shoulder to Nami who held up a large beautiful seashell.

I smiled as I shielded my eyes from the sun, "That's definitely going in the keep pile," I determined as I leaned down to the soft sand to dig for more.

My parents along with Nami and Elyse were very obviously trying to keep me busy.

I think they can't tell if I'm genuinely okay.

And maybe I'm not—maybe I have moments like lonely nights filled with a weird empty void in my chest or days that it feels like I've made absolutely no progress.

But then there are also the other times when I feel so alive, I think I could explode—or so happy and warm that I feel even the slightest bit of gratitude to even experience these moments.

It's an up-and-down cycle, but I've somehow found myself falling in love with it.

"You should bring some of these to your friends," Elyse suggested as she sat one of the buckets of seashells down.

I laughed, "Yeah because taking a pound of seashells to Ibiza is a brilliant idea," I joked with her.

Nami rolled her eyes as she took a few steps closer to us, "Maybe just take like four or five—" she suddenly picked one of the marbled seashells up, "—this one is really pretty... possibly for someone in particular," she subtly suggested.

And I knew who Nami was referring to.

Nami had sworn up and down that she was still waiting on me—even if everything felt so unspoken.

I hummed as I looked down at the seashell, however, before I could agree to take some with me—my phone began ringing in my pocket.

Saved by the bell.

Or in my case, Mya.

"Mya!" I rushed out in excitement as I looked between my two godmothers, "You have impeccable timing," I said as I backed away from the two women who shook their heads at me.