Chapter 9 NINE

A blast of sunlight awoke Marissa and she groggily opened her eyes.

The scent of salt and jasmine lingered in the air, mingling with the faint trace of Lazar's cologne on the pillow beside her. She reached out instinctively, her fingers brushing against cool, empty sheets.

He was gone.

Last night hadn't been an erotic dream; it had really happened. She'd made love with Lazar.

What had possessed her to act so wantonly?

She sat up slowly, the events of the previous night flooding back-every touch, every whispered word, every moment of vulnerability. The memory was vivid, almost tangible, and it left her both exhilarated and unsettled.

She sank back to the pillow, wondering why he had left before she woke up.

She rolled over and buried her face in the pillow he had laid on. Breathing deeply, she inhaled his scent, conceding she'd made love to Lazar because she had wanted him. She hated admitting she was so weak, but there was no denying it. She'd disappointed herself, and she couldn't even think about her husband.

But her regrets didn't change anything! She had cheated.

She hugged the pillow and groaned. How did he feel about last night? He said he liked her, didn't he? Had he gotten her out of his system?

After a while, she rolled onto her back, staring up at the canopy of the bed. Then she sat up and glanced around the room, half expecting him to walk out from a corner.

The alarm clock read almost noon, she was about looking away when her eyes landed on a gift box--a pretty gift box.

Her heart fluttered and her breath caught.

Marissa took the box, her fingers trembling slightly. Inside, nestled in velvet, was an exquisite bracelet and matching earrings-delicate gold filigree adorned with emeralds that matched her gown from the night before. A note accompanied it:

Marissa,

Last night was more than I ever anticipated. I had to leave early for an urgent matter, but I hope this token reminds you of our time together. Please consider extending your stay until I return next weekend.*

Yours,

L

Marissa's heart fluttered as she read the note. She traced the elegant script with her finger, a mixture of emotions swirling within her. She swallowed heavily as her heart grew heavy.

Marissa sat on the edge of the bed, the bracelet glinting in her hand. She fastened it around her wrist, the cool metal warming against her skin. It felt like a promise, a connection to something she wasn't ready to let go of.

Dropping it back on the table, she wrapped the sheet around herself and laid down. The ocean stretched out before her, serene and indifferent.

Her thoughts drifted to her husband, to the life she had momentarily set aside. Guilt gnawed at her, but so did a longing she couldn't ignore. Lazar had awakened something in her. A sense of being seen, of being desired, of being alive.

The day passed in a haze. She wandered the resort, the bracelet a constant reminder of the night before. She found herself returning--in her mind--to the spots they had shared. The garden where they danced, the path they walked, the night they had shared the first kiss and had surrendered to their desires.

As evening approached, she stood on the terrace, staring into the distance. The sun dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in hues of orange and pink. She closed her eyes, letting the breeze caress her face.

She thought of Lazar; his touch, his voice, the way he looked at her as if she were the only person in the world. She felt a pull, a yearning that defied logic.

Though Lazar was gone, his presence haunted the room. She wasn't sure if she wanted him near or far, caught between desire and the heavy weight of her marriage.

The days passed in a blur. She wandered the resort gardens, tried to lose herself in books, but her mind was tethered to that night, to him. The guilt nibbled at her resolve, but the pull was stronger.

Friday melted into Saturday, and then Sunday.

Determined to make the most of her stay--without him, Marissa immersed herself in the resort's offerings. On Saturday morning, she joined a sunrise yoga session at the pool, the gentle stretches and rhythmic breathing grounding her amidst the emotional whirlwind. Later, she indulged in a spa treatment, the soothing massage easing the tension from her body.

In the evening, she strolled along the beach, the sand warm beneath her feet, and sat beneath the shade of palm trees, letting the gentle breeze soothe her thoughts. When she returned to the resort she dined alone, the vibrant flavors of the local cuisine a stark contrast to the emptiness she felt inside.

Saturday brought a cooking class, where she learned to prepare local delicacies, the vibrant flavors and aromas a delightful distraction. In the afternoon, she explored the island's trails, the lush greenery and chirping birds providing a serene backdrop for reflection.

Sunday was a day of solitude. She spent hours lounging by the pool, a novel in hand, occasionally glancing up to watch the waves crash against the shore. In the evening, she dined alone at the resort's restaurant, savoring each bite and the quiet that enveloped her, while hoping to find a message or sign from Lazar, but none came.

The silence grew heavier with each passing day, amplifying her feelings of guilt and confusion.

Despite these activities, an undercurrent of unease persisted.

By Monday morning, Marissa knew she couldn't stay any longer. The island, once a paradise, had become a place of torment, a constant reminder of her transgression--her sin, so without a moment hesitation she booked the next available flight back to Bustrov.

While packing, Marissa's fingers hovered over the bracelet resting in its velvet-lined box. She picked it up slowly, running her thumb over the delicate metal, the cold touch of it clashing with the heat in her chest. For a brief moment, she clutched it to her palm then returned it gently to the box, closing the lid with finality and dropping it into the suitcase.

Around her, the room bore the soft silence of departure. As she moved about, her eyes landed on the little collection of items scattered across the table and dresser-the earrings, the silk scarf, the bracelet, the handmade trinket from the market, even the strange herbal tea Lazar insisted she try. Each piece held a memory. A look. A laugh. A feeling.

She folded each one carefully, placing them in a soft corner of her bag.

Then came the note.

She stared at it for a long second, then folded it once, twice, and slipped it into a side pocket deep within her suitcase.

"I'll get rid of it," she whispered to herself, but her fingers lingered a moment longer before she finally closed the bag.

Marissa took one last look around the large room. The curtains billowed as the ocean breeze slipped in through the windows. Her suitcase sat by the door, zipped, packed, final. The place had once felt foreign, now it held pieces of her.

Outside, the hum of a waiting cab drifted in.

She stepped out into the soft afternoon sun, finding Lilian standing just by the steps. The young woman smiled, but her eyes betrayed a quiet sadness.

Who would have thought that she would find a new friend? A lot had changed in the past few days, she admitted to herself.

"You really have to go?" Lilian asked.

Marissa nodded, her throat tightening as she tried to wear a warm smile. "Yes. I do."

They hugged. It wasn't rushed. It wasn't light. It was the kind of embrace that said, thank you for treating me like a friend and making me comfortable.

"I'll miss this place," Marissa whispered, when they were released from the hug.

"And it'll miss you," Lilian replied with a small, knowing smile.

The cab driver, an older man with gentle eyes, stepped out to help with her suitcase, but Marissa paused at the edge of the driveway. She turned once more toward the villa, toward the place where something inside her had stirred back to life.

As the car pulled away from La Viv-basing Lilian goodbye-the resort began to shrink in the rearview mirror. The white walls, the garden, the winding path to the beach, fading into the distance. A lump formed in her throat, and she swallowed hard.

It felt like leaving something unfinished.

The road curved, and the last glimpse of the villa disappeared behind a wall of green.

Marissa leaned back, fingers tightening around her handbag.

She didn't want to cry. But she couldn't hold it in.

She told herself she was doing the right thing-leaving before it became more. Before desire turned into something dangerous.

But even as she recited that mantra, her mind returned to his voice, his touch. The soothing way he had looked at her as if she was the only thing he saw.

This was the right decision. She had to believe that.

And without holding back, the tears came and she let it pour.

Her suitcase had been light, but her heart was heavy.

At the airport, as the plane began to taxi, Marissa leaned back into her seat. She wrapped her arms around herself, and knew deep down that she was taking those moments with her.