A Three-day Trip | Completed

Chapter 1

The sun shines too bright, and it rises too high. It slightly burns my fair skin even if I am wearing my thick pink with a shade of gray hoodie. Thankfully, my pink police shades truly protect my eyes.

The salty smell of the sea is everywhere. Here in this wide wharf, there are hundreds of people waiting for the painted gray gigantic ship. There is a group of friends on my left side chit-chatting. To my right, a couple helping each other with their bags.

They're sweet. It's lovely to see.

I dropped my pink backpack beside my pink mid-stroller gripping its handle above. I picked up my Pocari drinking the whole water in it. I wiped my sweat in my forehead.

Observing my surroundings, I noticed that the ship is about to load passengers. We prepared ourselves for the commotion in ascending to it.

"Remember Candi, move faster than the usual and follow me tightly." My father, Frank Tovatt, always gave that speech every time we encounter this kind of scenario.

Indeed, he is a caring, loving, sweet, strict yet understanding, forgiving, and a lot more to explain. All in all, he's the best dad in the world.

"Candi, come on!" he shouted.

Here I am again - preoccupied. I tried to find my father, and I saw him through the crowd too far from me. Passengers are bumping each other just to be on the ship.

I walked faster despite the lots of people in front of us as we are climbing this gigantic ship. I tried to rush by pushing people around me but they were too strong. Dad rushed back to me but people around make it useless.

My breathing is shallow now. My sight starts to blur. I inhale deeply. I tried to compose myself.

Yes, fear crept in me seeing the deep, clear dark blue water below the shaking wooden bridge that connects the wharf and the ship that I actually am standing at.

He looked at me worried because, of course, dad knows I have acrophobia. He tried again reaching me but still, the crowd makes it difficult as they pushed him up onto the board.

I tried to smile but it disappoints me. I am shaking. I look at him with a fake smile.

"Go on dad, I can do this. Let's meet up there," I shouted and pointing the edge part of the ship.

Dad looks scared. I badly needed to hug him for him to say everything's fine but it wouldn't happen this time.

I smiled courageously, honestly. I need to do this. I needed to!

I felt I am about to faint seeing again the dark blue water below this bridge. I inhale deeply and blow it slowly. I repeated it a couple of times until my breathing quite stabilizes. I should take a step.

Come on, come on, you can do it!

I tried convincing myself a hundred times. I started making my very small steps when someone grabbed my arm.

"Candi, you should have waited for me." She pouted her red lips with her puppy green eyes looking at me.

She grabbed my stroller in my hands. I realized I did grip it too tight because my hand is painted red.

"You even barely move your feet." I smiled sweetly to my best friend Trisha Carlo who became my sort of savior again in the middle of this midst.

"Oh, don't grin like that, you girl!" She pinched my cheeks that makes me groan.

I hugged her so tight being too grateful for what she just did. She hugged me tightly too. She exactly knew I can never do it. Thankfully, she's here.