Revealed

78. Solane

We reach the beach house Melissa showed us a while back. The exterior is a beautiful sandy color with a coral blue roof. There are two levels, the bottom way bigger than the top and the whole house sits right beside a section of rocks, an amazing setting to have a photoshoot.

It's a gorgeous sight.

Before leaving the car, Stella and I come up with the most detailed plan we can.

"She's not going to make this easy for us," Stella says with so much concern in her voice.

"Well obviously. But now I'm here. That's one less thing for her to feel guilty about."

I take a breath before peeking outside my window, trying to see if Melissa is inside.

"Okay. Here's the plan. You go out back and I'll go inside. If you see her, scream my name."

"Solane! What kind of plan is -"

I use my left hand to cover her mouth and my right to shush her. "Stella, she'll hear us and leave."

While slowly removing my hand, a loud clashing sound makes Stella and I jump. Our heads shoot upwards towards the source and then right back at each other. Our faces alone have a whole conversation.

We don't waste another second and go dashing through the front door which is so conveniently open. Familiar..

The home is decorated exactly the same as my memories recall. I stand there for a minute reminiscing on the life I had when there were no problems and no complications.

As Stella begins running up the stairs, we see Melissa starting to walk down and as soon as she sees Melissa, she freaks out and goes running back up in the opposite direction.

"Melissa! Wait!" Stella  shouts as we chase after her. She won't be able to run for long, and we're right. She eventually locks herself in a closet all the way down the hall.

"Mel. I know you're in there. Please come out," Stella pleads. There's no response. She sighs and sloppily falls to the ground. I soon catch up to her so out of breath.

"Oh my gosh, Stella. I'm so out of shape. Being stuck in a car for every hour of everyday really did something to my stamina. LOL." I breathe heavily in between my words.

Then, the door clicks. Stella and I both watch as it opens. The darkness of the closet only showed half of Melissa's face until she steps out into the light. She is drowned in tears and her eyes are unbelievably red.

"Solie?" she whispers.

A shiver goes up my whole body. "Melissa," I respond. We both smiled and capture each other in a long lasting hug. Stella sits on the floor watching.

"But.. how?"

"It's okay Mel. Whatever happened while I was gone, it's okay. All that matters is that we're all here together." I reach out my hand towards Stella and she takes it.

"Now's not the time to explain everything."

There are so many thoughts and questions going through her mind that I can practically hear them. "Right now, I just want to have a group hug with my two best friends who deserve so much more than the trouble I caused them.... Can I have that? Please?"

Stella looks over at Melissa and Melissa does the same. They both sigh and stretch their arms out for a hug. The smile on my face is unmeasurable and I squeal in excitement.

All three of us are now trapped in the hug for what seems like forever.