I came to the island searching for peace, a fresh start to heal from my past. Instead, I found HIM\u2014charming, attentive, and everything I didn\u2019t know I needed. But just when I started to believe in new beginnings, a single moment shattered it all.\n

Even though I\u2019d spent decades there, my living room felt like a stranger’s space. At 55, I stared at the open suitcase, wondering how my life had come to this.\n

“How did we get here?” I asked the chipped “Forever & Always” cup in my hand before tossing it aside.\n\n

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I ran my hand along the couch. “Goodbye to Sunday coffee and pizza fights.”\n\n

Memories buzzed in my mind, unwelcome guests I couldn\u2019t evict. In the bedroom, the emptiness hit harder. The other side of the bed stared back at me like an accusation.\n\n

“Don\u2019t look at me like that,” I muttered. “It wasn\u2019t all my fault.”\n\n

Packing became a scavenger hunt for things that still mattered. The laptop sat on my desk like a beacon.\n\n\n\n\n\n

“At least you stuck around,” I said, patting it.\n\n

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After two years of work, my novel was inside. It wasn\u2019t finished, but it was mine\u2014proof I wasn\u2019t entirely lost.\n\n

Then, Lana\u2019s email came:\n\n

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“Creative retreat. Warm island. Fresh start. Wine.”\n\n\n
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“Of course, wine,” I laughed.\n\n
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Lana had always been good at making disasters sound appealing. The idea felt reckless, but wasn\u2019t that the point?\n\n
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I stared at the flight confirmation. My inner voice was relentless.\n\n
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What if I hate it? Or if they hate me? What if I fall into the ocean and get eaten by sharks?\n\n
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But then another thought crept in.\n\n
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What if I enjoy it?\n\n
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I exhaled and closed the suitcase. “Here\u2019s to running away.”\n\n
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I wasn\u2019t running away. I was running toward something.\n\n
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***\n\n
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The island greeted me with a warm breeze and the rhythmic sound of ocean waves crashing against the shore. For a moment, I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, letting the salty air fill my lungs.\n\n
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This is exactly what I needed.\n\n
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But the peace didn\u2019t last. As I approached the retreat, the serenity of the island was replaced by loud music and bursts of laughter. People mostly in their 20s and 30s lounged on brightly colored beanbags, holding drinks that seemed more umbrella than liquid.\n\n
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“Well, this isn\u2019t exactly a monastery,” I muttered under my breath.\n\n
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A group near the pool burst into laughter so loud it startled a bird from a nearby tree. I sighed.\n\n
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Creative breakthroughs, huh, Lana?\n\n
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Before I could retreat into the shadows, Lana appeared, her sunhat tilted at a jaunty angle and a margarita in hand.\n\n
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“Thea!” she shouted, as though we hadn\u2019t emailed just yesterday. “You made it!”\n\n
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“Regretting it already,” I murmured but plastered on a smile.\n\n
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“Oh, stop,” she said, waving a hand. “This is where the magic happens! Trust me, you’ll love it.”\n\n
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“I was hoping for something… quieter,” I said, raising an eyebrow.\n\n
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“Nonsense! You need to meet people and soak in the energy! Speaking of which,” she grabbed my arm, “I have someone you must meet.”\n\n
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Before I could protest, she dragged me through the crowd. I felt like a frumpy mother at a high school party, trying not to trip over discarded flip-flops.\n\n
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We stopped in front of a man who, I kid you not, looked like he belonged on the cover of GQ. Sun-kissed skin, a relaxed smile, and a white linen shirt unbuttoned just enough to be suggestive but not sleazy.\n\n
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“Thea, meet Eric,” Lana said with excitement.\n\n
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“It\u2019s a pleasure to meet you, Thea,” he said, his voice as smooth as the ocean breeze.\n\n
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“Likewise,” I said, hoping my nervousness didn\u2019t show.\n\n
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Lana beamed as if she\u2019d just set up a royal engagement. “Eric\u2019s a writer, too. He\u2019s been dying to meet you since I told him about your novel.”\n\n
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My cheeks flushed. “Oh, it\u2019s not finished.”\n\n
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“Doesn\u2019t matter,” Eric said. “The fact that you\u2019ve poured yourself into it for two years… that\u2019s incredible! I\u2019d love to hear about it.”\n\n
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Lana smirked and backed away. “You two talk. I\u2019ll find more margaritas!”\n\n
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I glared after her. But in a few minutes, whether it was Eric\u2019s undeniable charisma or the enchanting ocean breeze playing tricks on me, I found myself agreeing to a walk.\n\n
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“Give me a moment,” I said, surprising even myself.\n\n
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Back in my room, I rummaged through my suitcase and pulled out my most flattering sundress.\n\n
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Why not? If I\u2019m going to be dragged around, I might as well look good doing it.\n\n
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When I stepped outside, Eric was waiting. “Ready?”\n\n
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I nodded, trying to act casual, even as my stomach did an uncharacteristic flutter. “Lead the way.”\n\n
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Eric showed me parts of the island that seemed untouched by the chaos of the “retreat.” A secluded beach with a swing hanging from a palm tree, a hidden trail leading to a cliff with a breathtaking view\u2014places that weren\u2019t in any guidebook.\n\n
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“You\u2019re good at this,” I said, laughing.\n\n
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“Good at what?” he asked, sitting on the sand nearby.\n\n
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“Making someone forget they\u2019re wildly out of place.”\n\n\n
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His smile widened. “Maybe you\u2019re not as out of place as you think.”\n\n
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As we talked, I laughed more than I had in months. He shared stories of his travels and love for literature, which matched mine. His admiration for my novel felt sincere, and when he joked about framing my autograph one day, I felt a warmth I hadn\u2019t in a long time.\n\n
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But beneath the laughter, something tugged at the edge of my thoughts. A faint unease I couldn\u2019t explain. He seemed perfect, too perfect.\n\n
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***\n\n
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The next morning started on a high note. I stretched, my mind buzzing with ideas for the next chapter of my novel.\n\n
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“Today\u2019s the day,” I murmured, reaching for my laptop.\n\n
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My fingers flew over the keyboard as I woke it up. But when the desktop appeared, my heart stopped. The folder where my novel had lived\u2014two years of blood, sweat, and sleepless nights\u2014was gone. I searched every corner of the hard drive, hoping I had mistakenly deleted it. Nothing.\n\n
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“That\u2019s odd,” I said to myself.\n\n
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My laptop was there, but the most important part of my life\u2019s work had disappeared without a trace.\n\n
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“Okay, don\u2019t freak out,” I whispered, clutching the edge of the desk. “You probably just deleted it.”\n\n
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But I knew I hadn\u2019t. I bolted out of the room and headed straight to Lana. As I passed the hallway, muffled voices caught my attention. I froze, my heart pounding. Slowly, I moved toward the sound. The door to the next room was slightly ajar.\n\n
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“We just need to pitch it to the right publisher?” he asked.\n\n
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My blood ran cold. Eric\u2019s voice was unmistakable. Peeking through the gap, I saw Lana leaning in, her voice a low hum of conspiracy.\n\n
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“Her manuscript is brilliant,” Lana said, her tone syrupy. “We\u2019ll figure out how to position it as mine. She\u2019ll never know what hit her.”\n\n
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My stomach churned with anger and betrayal, but also something worse\u2014disappointment. Eric, who\u2019d made me laugh, listened to me, and who I\u2019d started to trust, was part of that.\n\n
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I turned away before they could see me and headed to my room. I slammed my suitcase shut, stuffing clothes into it haphazardly.\n\n
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“This was supposed to be my fresh start,” I whispered bitterly.\n\n
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My vision blurred, but I refused to cry. Crying was for someone who still believed in second chances, and I was done with that.\n\n
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By the time I left the island, the bright sunshine felt like a cruel joke. I kept my gaze ahead, refusing to look back. I didn\u2019t need to.\n\n
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***\n\n
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Months later, the bookstore was buzzing with excitement. Rows of seats were filled, and the air hummed with conversation. I stood at the podium, holding a copy of my novel, and tried to focus on the faces smiling back at me.\n\n
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\u201cThank you all for being here tonight,\u201d I said, my voice steady despite the swirl of emotions beneath the surface. \u201cThis book is the result of years of work and\u2026 a journey I never expected to take.\u201d\n\n
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The applause was warm, yet I felt an ache deep in my chest as I looked out over the crowd. The novel was my pride, yes, but the road to its success had been anything but smooth. The betrayal still lingered in my mind.\n\n
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After the signing line dwindled and the last guest left, I sank into a chair at the corner of the store, exhausted. That\u2019s when I saw it\u2014a small folded note on the table.\n\n
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“You owe me an autograph. Caf\u00e9 around the corner when you\u2019re free.”\n\n\n
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The handwriting was unmistakable. My heart skipped a beat. Eric.\n\n
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I stared at the note, my emotions a confusing mix of curiosity, irritation, and something else I wasn\u2019t ready to name.\n\n
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For a moment, I considered crumpling it up and walking away. But instead, I sighed, grabbed my coat, and headed for the caf\u00e9. I spotted him immediately.\n\n
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\u201cYou\u2019re bold, leaving me a note like that,\u201d I said, sliding into the seat across from him.\n\n
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\u201cBold or desperate?\u201d he replied with a wry smile. \u201cI wasn\u2019t sure you\u2019d come.\u201d\n
\u201cNeither was I,\u201d I admitted.\n\n
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\u201cThea, I need to explain. What happened on the island… At first, I didn\u2019t realize Lana\u2019s true motives. She convinced me it was all to help you. But the moment I discovered what she was really planning, I stole the flash drive and sent it to you.\u201d\n\n
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I stayed silent.\n\n
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\u201cWhen Lana involved me, she said you were too modest to publish your novel yourself,\u201d Eric continued. \u201cShe claimed you didn\u2019t believe in your talent and needed someone to surprise you, to push it forward. I thought I was helping.\u201d\n\n
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\u201cA surprise?\u201d I shot back. \u201cYou mean taking my work behind my back?\u201d\n\n
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\u201cThat\u2019s what I thought at first. The moment she told me the truth, I grabbed the flash drive and went to find you, but you were already gone.\u201d\n\n\n
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\u201cSo, what I overheard wasn\u2019t what it seemed?\u201d\n\n
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\u201cIt wasn\u2019t. Thea, I chose you the second I understood the truth.\u201d\n\n
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I let the silence settle, waiting for the familiar anger to surface. But it wasn\u2019t there anymore. Lana\u2019s manipulations were in the past, and the novel had been published on my terms.\n\n
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\u201cShe always envied you, you know,\u201d Eric said quietly, breaking the silence. \u201cEven back in university, she felt overshadowed. This time, she saw an opportunity and used both our trust to try and take what wasn\u2019t hers.\u201d\n\n
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\u201cAnd now?\u201d\n\n
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\u201cShe\u2019s gone. Disappeared from every circle I know. She couldn\u2019t face the fallout after I refused to back her lies.\u201d\n\n
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\u201cYou made the right choice. That counts for something.\u201d\n\n\n
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\u201cDoes that mean you\u2019ll give me another chance?\u201d\n\n
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\u201cOne date,\u201d I said, holding up a finger. \u201cDon\u2019t mess it up.\u201d\n\n
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His grin widened. \u201cDeal.\u201d\n\n
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As we left the caf\u00e9, I caught myself smiling. That one date turned into another and then another. Before I knew it, I fell in love. And that time, it wasn\u2019t one-sided. What started with betrayal had blossomed into a relationship built on understanding, forgiveness, and, yes, love.\n\n
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Tell us what you think about this story, and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.\n\n
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If you enjoyed this story, read this one: I thought I was helping a sharp-tongued customer pick a gift for her son\u2019s girlfriend. But our clash became deeply personal when she came to dinner as my BF’s mother. Read the full story\u00a0here.\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I came to the island searching for peace, a fresh start to heal from my past. Instead, I found HIM\u2014charming, attentive, and everything I didn\u2019t know I needed. But just when I started to believe in new beginnings, a single moment shattered it all. Even though I\u2019d spent decades there, my living room felt like …\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":102709,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1439],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-88584","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88584","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=88584"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88584\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":102733,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/88584\/revisions\/102733"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/102709"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=88584"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=88584"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/echowoven.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=88584"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}