Chapter Six
The sharp edges of stones pressed into Zara’s bare feet as she balanced on the edge of a rocky outcrop.
Here she was again, hovering in this realm, with no inkling as to why she kept returning.
Was it a place of her dreams? Or was it a place of nightmares?
She wasn’t sure. As she pondered, the howling wind whipped loose hair around her face while she gazed down at the lumbering dark clouds ready to dump a deluge of rain.
She steadied her stance, remembrances of Jay flooding her mind, his laughter and warmth a bittersweet echo in her heart.
Unlike other times, she felt as if he were almost so far away from her that she could never reach him, as the ache of their recent parting lingered poignantly, reminding her of the love they shared and the distance that now separated them.
And as she stood there, teetering on the edge of uncertainty, wondering if she should tumble forward or stand her ground, a voice called out her name from behind her.
Startled, she carefully turned to see a figure emerging from the cloudy shadows.
It was an older woman, her face lined with wisdom and kindness, her silver-streaked hair floating out behind her.
‘Lost in thoughts, my dear?’ the woman asked, her voice softly angelic.
Zara nodded slowly, unsure of how to explain the turmoil in her heart. ‘I miss him,’ she confessed, the words heavy with longing. ‘In a way that I’ve never missed him before.’
Near her now, the woman placed a comforting hand on her arm.
‘Love has a way of tethering our souls across enormous distances,’ she said, her eyes holding a depth of understanding that seemed to transcend time.
‘But remember, my dear, love is not bound by mere physical presence. It exists in the whispers of the wind, in the beating of your heart, even when you’re apart. ’
Zara gazed at the oddly familiar woman, searching for solace in her words. ‘Do you believe that love can endure any trial?’ she asked, her voice wavering with uncertainty.
The woman smiled, a glimmer of ancient knowledge shining in her gaze.
‘Love is a force that defies reason and logic. It weathers storms, crosses oceans and transcends boundaries.’ She brought her hand to lightly rest on Zara’s cheek.
‘If your love is pure, it will stand strong against any test that comes its way.’ She turned to face the horizon, where more storm clouds gathered ominously on the distant horizon.
‘Just remember, Zara, every trial you face, every obstacle in your path, is a chance for your love to grow stronger. So embrace the challenges as opportunities to deepen your bond, and forge a connection that surpasses mere physical presence.’
A sense of peace settled over Zara as she nodded and the first drops of rain began to strangely reach upwards, mingling with her tears. Bewildered by the ascending rain, she watched the droplets on their upward trajectory, wondering where they were heading.
‘Here, Zara.’ The woman stretched out her hand. ‘Take this, as a symbol of your love for Jay, and your many travels.’
‘Thank you,’ she whispered as she took what she discovered was a pretty seashell.
Then, without any more words shared between them, she watched the woman disappear into the mist, her wise words lingering in Zara’s mind.
Taking a deep breath, she turned back to face the expanse before her as she tucked the shell into her pocket and the wind whipped faster around her, unsteadying her balance, pressing her forward.
Drawing strength from the encounter, she stepped over the edge and tumbled into the abyss; lashings of searing pain ripped through her, but so fleetingly that she was sure it was only between two breaths.
The fall itself seemed eternal as the air rushed past her in a deafening roar.
She tried to cry out, but no sound left her lips.
Time seemed to stretch and distort as she plummeted towards a churning ocean below, and in those heart-stopping seconds, flashes of memories flooded her mind — instances of joy, of sorrow, of love.
And in that precipice between life and possible oblivion, she felt a shift within herself, a grounded assuredness, before she blinked and landed.
Her arms flying out to steady herself, Zara looked upwards; she was back in what she knew was her real life.
The moon, a silent sentinel in the dark heavens, cast its silver light across the secluded cove in Santorini where she now sat.
The soft sand beneath her was cool and damp from the gentle waves that lapped at the shore and each kiss of water whispered secrets as it retreated into the vast, dark ocean, only to return again and again with fervent devotion as she sat, dazed, wondering if she’d fallen asleep on the sand.
Or had she been sleepwalking?
Surely not.
Blinking everything into focus, she found herself beside Jay, with a pretty seashell in her hand, and their work duties now replaced by a palpable sense of serendipity in this shared moment beneath the stars.
‘Zara, my love, are you feeling okay?’ Jay’s strong hand found hers, and their fingers intertwined. ‘You seem out of sorts.’
‘Yes, sorry, I don’t know what came over me.’ Tucking the shell into the pocket of her skirt, Zara relished the warmth of his skin melding with hers, and the gentle breeze playing with the soft curls that framed her face. ‘But I’m okay now, so don’t worry.’
‘Are you sure?’ His gaze was incredibly concerned, heart-warmingly so.
‘Yes, I’m perfectly okay.’ She jumped to her feet and spun in a circle. ‘Look, I’m all put together.’ Her belly grumbled. ‘And by the sounds of it, very ready to eat.’
‘Ha, yes, it sounds like you’re harbouring a wild beast in there.’ He stood and wiped the sand from his shorts. ‘Come on then, our food should be almost at our table by now.’
They took their seats, side by side, at the wooden table set close to the water’s edge where the sea seemed like an extension of their intimate space, its lulling waves creating a peaceful backdrop for their starry-eyed evening together.
A lone candle flickered between them, and half a bottle of red wine waited to be poured into their empty glasses.
As if on cue, the meal arrived, a plethora of grilled prawns, fish, scallops and octopus, along with a bowl of garden salad.
They hungrily tucked in, oohing and ahhing over the deliciousness of the simply prepared food, as fresh as the sea keeping them company.
‘Beautiful here, isn’t it?’ Zara’s voice broke through the quiet of their feasting.
‘It sure is, and I think I’m safe in saying, one of our favourite places to fly into?’ Jay replied without hesitation, his gaze never leaving hers.
‘Yes, it is, for sure.’ She dipped her fingers into the bowl of lemon water, then wiped her hands onto her napkin.
Bellies eventually full, they sat back with their glasses of wine and gazed upward.
The constellations seemed to bear witness to their shared silence, creating a comfortable and intimate atmosphere filled with the unspoken confessions of their hearts.
The remnants of their dinner lingered on the table with a few scattered rose petals, where the flickering flame of the candle struggled against the gentle breath of the Aegean Sea.
The aroma of fresh seafood and herbs still hung in the air, mingling with the salty spray that misted their skin.
On this magical night, with the ocean embracing them, it was as though they’d stepped out of reality and into a realm where only they existed.
‘Thank you for this,’ Zara eventually murmured, her head tilting ever so slightly. ‘For being here with me.’
‘Where else would I be?’ Jay turned his head to meet her gaze, his piercing blue eyes reflecting the moon’s glow and the depth of his emotions. ‘Because right here, with you, is exactly where I’m meant to be,’ he added tenderly.
With the meal behind them, and the bill paid, they migrated towards the edge of the shore.
The cool grains sifted between their toes as they walked hand in hand towards their hotel, feeling the pull of each other’s energy like a magnetic force.
Pausing to watch a ship sailing into the harbour, Zara nestled into the crook of Jay’s arm, her head finding its rightful place upon his broad chest. She could feel his heart beating in time with hers, two halves of a whole, as the serenade of the waves offered a soothing rhythm.
With every inhalation she drew in the briny essence of the sea, as a profound peace washed over her — the kind only to be found in the arms of another whose soul whispered the same language.
Her eyes fluttered closed for a moment, allowing the night to weave its magic on her senses — the cool sand beneath her, the distant peal of laughter from the nearby trattoria, and the warmth radiating from Jay’s body and into hers.
This was a far cry from the life she’d be living right now if her parents were still alive. God rest their souls.
‘Zara,’ came Jay’s voice, a tender rumble that resonated within her very core.
She opened her eyes, turning her gaze to meet his. Moonlight danced in his blue orbs, creating an ocean of their own in which she felt herself sinking blissfully. ‘Yes, my darling?’
His fingers traced a path along her arm, sending ripples of electricity through her skin.
‘I can’t imagine my life without you,’ he confessed, his words adrift on the night air.
‘Over the past six months, you’ve brought so much joy and love into my world, and I’d really like it if we could plan to move in together. ’
Her breath caught, held captive by the gravity of his declaration. ‘Really, you’re ready for that?’