The morning was still, the air thick with the quiet calm that came just before sunrise. Lila stirred, feeling the cool breeze drift through the open windows, carrying with it the faint scent of the sea. She hadn't slept much, her mind restless with thoughts that seemed to swirl endlessly, but for once, the lack of sleep didn't bother her. Something about the early hour felt different, as though the world was holding its breath, waiting for something to happen.She slipped out of bed, careful not to wake Raine, and padded softly across the wooden floors. The villa was quiet, bathed in the soft, pale light of the predawn sky. Lila made her way to the kitchen, where she brewed a cup of tea, letting the warmth of the mug settle into her hands. With her tea in hand, she stepped out onto the terrace, drawn to the sight of the ocean, its surface dark and mysterious in the fading night.
The horizon was just beginning to lighten, a faint blush of pink spreading across the sky. Lila sat down on one of the wicker chairs, tucking her legs beneath her as she sipped her tea. The world felt still, almost suspended in time, and for the first time in a long while, she didn't feel the urge to do anything. There was no pressure here—just the quiet, the sea, and the promise of a new day.
Her journal sat beside her, the familiar leather cover worn from years of use. Normally, she would reach for it, eager to spill her thoughts onto the page in a desperate attempt to make sense of them. But today, she let it lie unopened. Instead, she simply sat, watching as the sky lightened, the sun slowly beginning its ascent over the horizon.
As the light grew brighter, so did Lila's thoughts, her mind turning over the decisions she had been avoiding for months. The trip had offered her a respite from the chaos of her life back home, but she knew she couldn't run from her responsibilities forever. The burnout from work, the uncertainty about her future, the lingering heartache from her last relationship—all of it weighed heavily on her, no matter how far she had traveled to escape it.
She sighed, setting her tea down on the small table beside her. There was no use pretending she could leave it all behind. But maybe, just maybe, she could start to make peace with it. After all, wasn't that why she had come here? To find some kind of clarity, some sense of direction that had eluded her for so long?
The sun finally crested the horizon, casting a golden light across the water. It was breathtaking, the way the ocean seemed to come alive in the early morning glow, the waves sparkling like liquid gold. Lila felt a flicker of something stir inside her—hope, maybe. Or perhaps it was simply the acknowledgment that life, like the ocean, kept moving forward, no matter what.
She closed her eyes, letting the warmth of the sun wash over her face. For the first time in what felt like forever, she didn't feel the need to control anything. She didn't have to have all the answers right now. Maybe it was enough just to be here, to trust that everything would fall into place in time.
The sound of footsteps behind her broke the stillness, and Lila opened her eyes to find Raine stepping out onto the terrace, her face lit up with the kind of excitement that only the promise of adventure could bring.
"Good morning, sleepyhead," Raine teased, her eyes twinkling as she dropped into the chair beside Lila. "You're up early for a change. What's going on? Couldn't sleep?"
Lila smiled, shaking her head. "I don't know. I just felt like being up early today. There's something about this time of day that feels... peaceful."
Raine sipped from her own mug of coffee, her gaze drifting out over the ocean. "Yeah, I get that. There's something magical about the sunrise. It's like a fresh start, you know? A clean slate."
"A clean slate," Lila repeated softly, the words sinking in. Maybe that was what she needed—a fresh start, a chance to let go of the past and step into something new.
YOU ARE READING
19 Days Under The Sun
SpiritualIn the midst of burnout, heartache, and uncertainty, Lila embarks on a 19-day tropical escape with her best friend Raine. Set against the backdrop of lush jungles and serene beaches, Lila's journey of self-discovery unfolds through quiet moments, ad...