What Happened to Sarah?

Chapter Three.

They had finally arrived at their destination—Lipayan Haraya. Sarah stepped out of the bus and stared up at the sprawling lake-view hotel, her chest tightening with a swirl of emotions. Lipayan Haraya was her favorite place—well, it had been in her dreams. A place she had only seen in pictures, glossy travel magazines her father used to show her. He’d promised, more than once, that he’d take her here someday. Someday never came. He was gone long before she even understood what had happened.

Now, standing in the flesh before the towering hotel, she felt a bittersweet pang in her heart. This should’ve been a moment of joy, a childhood dream fulfilled. But instead, it was just another reminder of broken promises.

The scent of the ocean swept over them, carried by the gentle breeze that rustled the nearby palm trees. The air was heavy with salt and the faintest hint of jasmine from the garden that lined the entrance. For a moment, Sarah closed her eyes, letting the familiar air soothe her. She didn’t want to feel sad right now. This was supposed to be a celebration. Her eighteenth birthday. Her friends had gone through so much trouble to make it special. She forced a smile as she followed them inside.

“Woooohooo!” Disco’s exuberant yell shattered the quiet calm. He threw his arms high into the air and started swiveling his hips, a spontaneous dance that had the hotel staff staring.

“Disco! Stop it!” Betty shrieked, half laughing, half mortified. “Oh God, please, no!” She waved her hands in front of him, trying to block his dance moves, but that only seemed to spur him on. With each step toward the front desk, Disco exaggerated his moves even more, much to the delight of a few onlookers and the increasing irritation of Betty.

Sarah couldn’t help but laugh. Disco was a whirlwind, always keeping things light—even if his sole purpose sometimes seemed to be annoying Betty. It wasn’t lost on Sarah that maybe, just maybe, Disco did it because he had feelings for her. She’d seen it before, the way his teasing often bordered on playful affection. She’d considered bringing it up, but Naomi had shut that idea down quickly. “Not your business,” Naomi had said with a shrug, and Sarah agreed. She had enough on her mind without playing matchmaker.

Cali and Naomi, ever the practical ones, were already at the front desk, chatting with the receptionist. They knew exactly how to handle this stuff—checking in, asking the right questions, making sure everything was perfect. After all, they’d been on a hundred outings like this before. For Sarah, though, this was different. It felt like more than just another trip. There was a sense of finality to it she couldn’t shake.

Sarah sank into the plush leather sofa in the lobby next to Nia, who was still glued to her phone, watching Modern Family—her latest obsession. Nia removed one of her earbuds and offered it to Sarah with a soft smile, and Sarah accepted, slipping it into her ear. The show’s familiar characters filled the silence, but Sarah’s thoughts drifted elsewhere, far from the comedic banter playing in her ear.

She stared at her reflection in the glass of Nia’s phone screen. Her face looked distant, her eyes heavy with unspoken worries. She thought about all the men who had let her down—her father, for one, and others who had crossed her path, leaving disappointment in their wake. Except for Disco and Cali. They never looked at her the way others did. They didn’t see her as someone to abandon or use. They were different, her rocks in a sea of chaos.

Sarah shifted her gaze to Nia, who was still engrossed in her show. Her heart ached as she imagined what would happen if Nia ever found out the truth—that Sarah was leaving them, leaving Lipayan Haraya, leaving everything behind. Nia would be devastated. The girl had been her anchor, especially during the darkest nights when her nightmares clawed at her mind. Nia had been there, every single time, with a comforting playlist and a whispered reassurance that everything would be okay. How could Sarah ever walk away from that?