Weeks turned into months, and the island began to feel like home in a way Lisa had never expected. She and Jennie had developed a routine, one that felt natural and unforced. Mornings were spent gathering food or tending to the small garden Jennie had cultivated near the cabin. Afternoons often brought time for exploring the island, discovering new paths and hidden spots that had yet to reveal their secrets. And the evenings—those were the moments Lisa treasured the most.
Sitting by the fire, they would talk for hours, the darkness around them cocooning their conversations in a kind of intimate warmth. It was during these quiet moments that Lisa felt closest to Jennie, that she found herself opening up in ways she had never thought possible.
One evening, as they sat close to the fire, Jennie noticed the distant look in Lisa's eyes. She had seen that look before—a mixture of longing and fear, as if Lisa was caught between two worlds, unsure of which one she belonged to.
"Penny for your thoughts?" Jennie asked, her voice soft and inviting.
Lisa blinked, coming out of her reverie. She looked at Jennie, a small smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. "Just thinking about... home, I guess. Or what used to be home."
Jennie tilted her head slightly, her blue eyes filled with curiosity. "Do you miss it?"
Lisa let out a slow breath, considering the question. "I miss parts of it. I miss the city, the energy of it. I miss the people I used to know, even if those relationships were complicated. But... I don't miss the pressure, the constant need to be perfect. That part... I'm glad to be rid of."
Jennie nodded, understanding. "It sounds like you had a lot on your shoulders."
"I did," Lisa admitted, her voice tinged with a mix of relief and sorrow. "But here... it's different. I don't feel that pressure anymore. For the first time, I feel like I can breathe."
Jennie smiled a gentle expression that warmed Lisa's heart. "I'm glad you feel that way. You deserve to have that space to just... be."
Lisa looked at Jennie, her eyes searching the other woman's face. There was something about Jennie—something that made Lisa feel safe like she could let down her guard and be herself without fear of judgment. It was a feeling she hadn't experienced in a long time, if ever.
"Jennie," Lisa began hesitantly, "can I ask you something? It's... kind of personal."
Jennie's expression softened, and she nodded. "Of course. You can ask me anything."
Lisa took a deep breath, gathering her thoughts. "How do you... how do you stay so positive? After everything you've been through, after losing your parents, being alone for so long... how do you keep that hope alive?"
Jennie was quiet for a moment, her gaze focused on the flickering flames. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft but steady. "I guess it's just who I am. My parents... They taught me to always look for the good in people and to believe that no matter how dark things get, there's always a light somewhere. I think that's what kept me going all these years—knowing that they'd want me to keep living, to keep hoping."
Lisa listened intently, feeling a pang of envy for Jennie's strength. She had always admired people who could find hope in the darkest of times, who could see the light even when everything seemed to be falling apart. It was a quality she had never possessed, but one she desperately wished she could cultivate.
"I wish I could be like that," Lisa said quietly, her voice laced with vulnerability. "I wish I could find that light, that hope. But sometimes... it feels like it's just out of reach."
Jennie looked at Lisa, her blue eyes filled with compassion. "It's okay to feel that way, Lisa. You've been through a lot—more than most people could handle. But you're still here, still fighting. That's a kind of hope, too."
Lisa felt a tear slip down her cheek, and she quickly wiped it away. "I don't feel strong," she admitted, her voice trembling. "I feel... lost."
Jennie reached out, taking Lisa's hand in hers. "You're not lost, Lisa. You're just finding your way. And I'm here with you, every step of the way."
Lisa looked at Jennie, her heart swelling with gratitude. She had never had someone in her life who was willing to walk beside her, to support her without expecting anything in return. It was a foreign feeling, but one that she found herself clinging to.
"Thank you," Lisa whispered, her voice filled with emotion. "I don't know what I'd do without you."
Jennie smiled, her hand squeezing Lisa's gently. "You'd be just fine. But I'm glad we're in this together."
They sat in silence for a while, the crackling of the fire the only sound between them. Lisa felt a warmth spread through her chest, a sense of peace she hadn't known in a long time. It was in these quiet moments, sitting by the fire with Jennie, that she felt most at home.
As the night wore on, the fire slowly died down, and the stars began to twinkle overhead. Lisa looked up at the sky, the vastness of it reminding her of how small her problems seemed in comparison. But with Jennie by her side, she felt like she could face anything.
"Jennie," Lisa said softly, her voice filled with a quiet determination, "I think I'm starting to understand what you meant. About hope, about finding the light."
Jennie turned to her, a gentle smile on her lips. "And what do you think?"
"I think... I think it's something I want to hold on to," Lisa replied, her voice steady. "I want to keep looking for that light, no matter how hard it is to find."
Jennie's smile widened, and she nodded. "That's all you can do. Keep looking, keep hoping. And I'll be here, right beside you."
Lisa felt a swell of emotion, a mixture of gratitude and something deeper—something she wasn't quite ready to name. But it was enough to know that she wasn't alone, that she had Jennie by her side.
As they sat together under the stars, the fire's embers glowing softly in the darkness, Lisa felt a sense of peace she hadn't known in years. She wasn't sure what the future held, but for the first time, she wasn't afraid of it. With Jennie by her side, she knew she could face whatever came their way.
And in that moment, she knew that she was starting to heal.
