Lily was both fascinated and alarmed to find the eggs beneath her bed. She had no idea what they were or where they had come from. Her parents quickly decided to get them removed by a specialist. The expert examined the eggs closely as soon as he arrived. As he studied them, his terrified eyes enlarged and his face turned pale.
“These are not regular eggs,” he added, turning to face Lilly’s parents. We had to get out of your house right away.
Lilly’s parents were not happy with the invasion of their privacy, particularly since their little daughter Lilly was present. They tried to discuss the evacuation, but soon found there was nothing to talk about. This was a serious situation, and they had to get out as soon as possible.
None of them said anything when they realized what it was. At first glance, these seemed like just strange eggs, but a closer look showed that they were much more than that. The family was taken aback and asked the expert to explain himself right away.
They didn’t even have time to pack their bags before they had to leave immediately. Lilly observed her parents being led by the expert and his team out of the house. Lilly felt like a totally different person after this encounter.
What exactly about these strange-looking eggs was deadly, then? Why had the specialist left the house in such a panic at that precise moment?
Lilly, like most little girls, is afraid of everything that could lurk under her bed. She therefore checks under her bed every morning. The same happened on Sunday morning when she happened to notice a bunch of pretty strange eggs out of the blue. She was unaware of what was going to happen, and this was just the beginning of the scenario.
Startled, Lilly bolts downstairs. When she calls out for her parents, they don’t respond at first. When she gets her parents’ attention, she tells them about the eggs. They don’t believe her at first, but as soon as they see the fear in her eyes, they follow her upstairs.
And Lilly wasn’t the only one who was shocked now. By this point, her parents, Hilly and Oscar, were equally shocked. They question Lilly about whether or not she actually placed them there, but they quickly realize that she is innocent. Oscar feels that the eggs are really warm as he attempts to touch one carefully. Oscar, be careful…
In addition to phoning an expert to comfort Lily, Oscar and Hilly agreed to get the eggs taken out as soon as possible. It appeared that the eggs would hatch soon because they were warm. That would have been the best case scenario, in retrospect.
The specialist was on his way to the terrified family’s home in less than fifteen minutes after making his phone call. Strangely enough, he was reluctant to head upstairs straight away. Taking out a photo book, he initially displayed some images to Oscar and Hilly before asking if those were the eggs from upstairs. The eggs in question were then spotted in a picture.
The expert was taken aback when they indicated the photo. He didn’t respond to them. With limited time, he requested right away if he might go upstairs. How on earth could it be? Lily was terrified because she could tell from the expert that something major was happening. She was perfectly entitled to…
The specialist bravely entered the room and used a flashlight to carefully examine under the bed. The family watched in anxiety for several minutes while he searched under the bed silently. They were desperate for clarification, if not answers. Before they heard a tremendous sound out of nowhere, there was no response!
The specialist was yelling in terror! He had been working so quietly and intently, when all of a sudden, he yelled as though confronting his worst nightmare. Oscar gave Lily a tight squeeze in the hopes that she wouldn’t overreact. How could that be? Furthermore, why did the expert yell in such way?
However, the expert remained seated. He remained on the ground, keeping Oscar and Lily in the dark as he double-checked everything. Oscar pondered over the possible situation. He needed to know right away if it was that horrible, therefore he was gradually running out of patience! But could he really just ask the knowledgeable person?
When the expert finally stood up, he did not look the family in the eye! It’s ridiculous, Oscar thought. He became enraged and walked over, insisting that he tell him what he saw and why he screamed! But before leaving, the expert angrily said to Oscar, “I need backup! Give me some space!”
However, this just made Oscar’s side question more! Did he not care more about this than the expert himself, since this was his home? Hilly also joined at this time. She asked the expert politely what was going on and whether they could help, seeming a little more composed than Oscar. However, his response would only heighten their concerns.
This got a better response from the expert. He was obviously trying to talk to the parents, as he glanced worriedly in Lily’s direction. But no matter how hard he searched, he could scarcely find the perfect words. He stumbled over his words and stammered. Were these eggs indeed that uncommon or harmful?
In the interim, the specialist contacted his contingency. He made a good effort to explain everything to them, but it seemed like he had to say it more than once. That could only indicate that not much of it was understood by his backup! The expert finally hung up, waiting for their backup to arrive.
Lily, Oscar, and Hilly were instructed to wait in the living room for the backup. They reluctantly complied, but they weren’t sure what the expert meant when he said “backup.” Did he call his supervisor? perhaps one of his associates? And should they show up, what would happen? They are so full of inquiries.
Soon after, the backup showed up in the form of an entire team! They hardly acknowledged the family, giving young Lily a fleeting nod. They proceeded directly to Lily’s bedroom and started to gently remove the bed. The procedure had started, and it wasn’t a simple one.
White-suit-wearing men crowded Lily’s chamber. As the men tore up the room, Oscar and Hilly stood horrified by their daughter’s door. They moved every piece of furniture out of the way and gathered around Lily’s bed, gently raising it. Beneath their masks, they could hear the men murmuring something very serious.
However, the expert’s colleagues were equally shocked when the bed was shifted! Now that Oscar, Hilly, and Lily could see, they could also tell that there were at least five big eggs! Furthermore, it turned out that the eggs might hatch sooner than they had originally anticipated.
The group examined the eggs closely and then had a brief discussion. Oscar attempted to listen in on them, but he was unable. Still, he could tell that they were clearly upset about the state of affairs. Soon afterward, the group proceeded. They abruptly worked in a resolute manner after coming to a decision.
While some remained and taped off Lily’s room, others went with samples of the eggs. Oscar, Hilly, and Lily felt terribly left out since no one was allowed in anymore. Even though they were all aware that these eggs were unusual, nobody was taking the time to explain what it was.
The group ultimately chose to contact the police! Oscar was taken aback! Was it really that bad? Were the cops really necessary? He was afraid for his own innocence now that he had never seen the police in his neighborhood! Even though he knew he had nothing to do with it, the thought of cops still gave him the creeps.
He attempted to dissuade the expert by saying him it couldn’t be that difficult and that they could work together to find a solution. However, the expert was too busy to consider his advice. The incessant queries from the family had started to bother him. He insisted that they remain in the living room so that his staff may finish their work.
Soon later, there were cops and professionals everywhere in the house! The terrified family tried to comfort one another, but it was an unbelievable circumstance. Oscar and Hilly started to feel concerned since they were becoming less and less active in the investigation. It quickly became apparent that those worries were well-founded.
The commanding police officer showed up in the interim. He took a serious look around the room and struck up a conversation with Hilly and Oscar. Sadly, he was at a loss for words as he attempted to reassure them. He soon joined the other experts and agents. There had been a revelation.
Oscar made an effort to get closer to Hilly and little Lily. However, because the specialists and police officers were whispering, they were still unable to hear anything! It was obvious that they could not tell the family directly about this knowledge. Oscar then noticed an odd expression on one of the officers’ cheeks.
He observed how shocked he was, with his eyes wide open! This officer’s expression made it obvious that he had heard some news that he had never heard before! Oscar eventually lost patience as a result, and he joined the group. The officers quit whispering right away. Oscar didn’t care, though. He insisted on an explanation!
Oscar pressed the officers for an explanation. But as he was speaking to them, every police officer took an unexpected action that Oscar never saw coming. With great surprise, they said, “Sir, stay there,” as they took a step back. You must remain still as you lay on the ground!”What’s happening?” Oscar wondered.
Oscar was unable to object to an instruction even though he didn’t know why he was supposed to lie on the ground. He then dropped to his knees and slowly raised his hands in the air. Inside the house, Hilly and Lily gazed with wide eyes. Oscar was being taken into custody? Why would they take such action?
The police claimed that they might be infected. Oscar was astonished by what he saw. Suddenly, though, he noticed his little Lily sobbing outside their home. Oscar lost it as he saw the police pulling out their firearms and rushed in their direction. Did they really think that they were crazy?
However, Oscar was pushed to the ground right away. But Oscar was relieved that Lily was taken into custody by a rather typical police officer who handled her with kindness. Subsequently, Lily and his spouse Hilly were placed in another police car together with Oscar. but everyone parted ways. What is happening?
A few minutes later, Oscar saw a big group of people walking in wearing white suits and going inside the house. Oscar waited for hours without receiving any approach, leaving him perplexed. At last, someone approached Oscar and said, “Sir, we have to take you and your family with us.” What the hell? Was there an arrest taking place?
From the other car, Oscar could hear his daughter crying. It was bizarre to see his house surrounded by police and men dressed in hazmat suits since the situation had gotten out of control. All of the items they removed from his house were hidden inside airtight ziplock bags. It appeared bizarre.
Oscar saw that the driver of the automobile was a man wearing a white suit rather than a police officer as it drove away. He tried to inquire, feeling confused and concerned, but they said nothing. Why were they dressed that way, and where were they taking him? The mystery got even more complex.
They reached their destination—an airport—after a two-hour trip. Oscar didn’t know what was going on and was perplexed. Abruptly, he was led aboard a chopper that was already there and carried away. His heart raced with anxiety and uncertainty, even though he had no idea where they were heading or why.
“Where are my spouse and daughter?He made an attempt to inquire. The sound of his words could hardly be heard over the propeller of the helicopter. There was no indication of Hilly and Lilly in the other car, but he was belted in and given ear protection. Where do you intend to take me?He attempted to inquire again, but nobody responded.
Oscar’s head was buzzing with questions as he flew into the air. Had his relatives already arrived? He was curious, but he knew it wouldn’t work to inquire. “We’re almost there, just five minutes away,” a man suddenly said.
Oscar peered out of the chopper, trying in vain to identify the land below. There was no sign of life, and the countryside appeared parched and lifeless. He felt the helicopter drop suddenly. He peered down, seeing little to distinguish the creatures below. What was this location?
Oscar landed at a base camp that had the appearance of a military camp, but it was unique in some way. It was unlike anything he had ever seen. He felt apprehensive around the strange technology and unknown faces. Why was he transported here, and what could this place be?
Oscar was seized by the arms by a second group of individuals dressed in white suits as soon as the helicopter touched down. After escorting him into a neighboring building, they imprisoned him in a cell. He felt alone and imprisoned in the cold, clinical environs. What was to become of him, and why had he been brought here?
Oscar had been having a quiet supper with his family only the day before. He was now imprisoned in a cell, unsure of what would happen to him. Was there another reason for his detention, or was he under arrest? His family, especially his small daughter Lilly, was his top priority. The abrupt upheaval must terrify her.
Two hours later, a man wearing a white suit and once more completely packed entered Oscar’s cell. Identifying himself as Alex, he said he was employed by a squad of covert forces. He expressed regret for the circumstances but maintained that their actions had been required. Oscar pressed for explanations, but Alex stayed evasive.
Oscar’s primary concern was for his family, particularly Lilly, his daughter. He made a forceful demand to find out where they were being taken. Alex hesitated before answering, casting a worried glance at him. At last, he whispered, “I must share with you something.”
Oscar yelled, “What? ” as his heart raced. How come? How come?Was Lilly having any problems? His heart pounded in his temples as he tried to gather himself. He waited for Alex to answer, and a sense of impending doom filled the air. It was almost too much to withstand the tension.
Oscar was having trouble regaining his composure, so Alex gave him a drink of water. Oscar had never felt so powerless and was humiliated that he had let go of control in that way. Then, like a dense fog, Alex’s words lingered in the atmosphere. It has to do with your daughter.
Alex told Oscar in a somber voice that he had to gather himself since his daughter had been quite sick after they had arrived at the clinic. With concern engraved on his face, Alex clarified that it was the eggs. However, what did that actually mean? Oscar’s thoughts was full of inquiries.
Oscar struggled to accept the news of his daughter’s sickness, his head buzzing with questions. And what kind of eggs might have been the cause? Was she truly ill, and if so, to what extent? His thirst for answers was growing as the uncertainty consumed him.
Alex insisted that the virus was highly secret and continued to be evasive about it. Oscar wanted to meet his daughter right away because she was his top priority. But Alex told him it could only happen if he had tested positive for the virus himself. Oscar had to comply even though it made him nervous and terrified.
Oscar was tested by a different man who came in. They got the results an hour later, and happily Oscar was not afflicted with the virus. He was happy to see his daughter and felt comforted. He prayed to God for her well-being.
Oscar was informed by Alex that he needed to follow certain procedures. He was required to don a hazmat suit like everyone else and was not permitted to touch his daughter. They informed him that Hilly, his wife, was still awaiting the results of the test and that she would be joining him in their daughter’s room if she had a negative result as well.
Desperate for an answer, Oscar barraged Alex with questions as he went down the corridor. Where did the virus come from? Did it originate from the enigmatic eggs? What kind of animal may live inside of them? Oscar was warned by Alex to keep quiet about several matters, but Alex remained evasive.
There was stillness for some minutes until Alex eventually spoke. “While your daughter is severely affected, I can’t reveal everything, but I’ll give you some information.” Oscar’s pulse pounded as he attempted to put the puzzle pieces together. What on earth possibly be ailing his daughter so severely?
“But let’s do some testing to be sure before I tell you more,” Alex added, guiding Oscar to his daughter’s room. “Everything we can to support her is being done. Ready to see her now?”
Oscar entered the room and was astounded to see his daughter, who appeared very exhausted and pallid, laying in bed. He couldn’t shake the question in his mind about whether she would survive this trauma.
Alex did not say anything, unable to comfort Oscar. The virus was poorly known, and there was a low survival rate, especially in youngsters. Now, all they could do was keep a careful eye on Lilly and pray for the best.
Alex went on. There are just three examples of this virus that are known to exist worldwide, making it very new. He paused and glanced at Oscar. “We’re still testing a lot of potential cures, but one really stands out.” Oscar was getting too used to the overwhelming silence. “Alex, tell me what’s going to happen to my daughter please.”
As Alex spoke, Oscar’s heart raced. “What is it?”He enquired earnestly. Alex stated, “It’s risky, but there’s a chance it could work,” with a determined yet unsure expression. “We must move quickly.”
Alex hypothesized that if his daughter received Oscar’s blood, her blood cells may mix with his healthy ones and thus save her life. Oscar accepted the blood transfer without hesitation and sat down to wait for the process to be completed.
They needed to draw blood and fill a large bag. However, they needed to confirm that their blood types were compatible before they could begin the transfusion. This could not function unless their blood types were the same. They did, in fact, have the same blood type, as tests revealed. Oscar was relieved.
Following the transfusion, they went into Lilly’s room and hung the blood bag so that the blood would seep into her veins. This was now a waiting game. Oscar had to ask whether they knew anything more about the unusual eggs that carried the virus.
They had to keep a tight eye on Lilly. In the event that something went wrong, they had to stop the transfusion right away. Oscar observed his daughter while seated near her bed. How did things reach to this point so quickly? He pondered in his head. His daughter’s survival was uncertain, and her life was in jeopardy.
At last, Hilly showed up. Like the others, she was dressed in a white suit. However, it was comforting to know that she tested negative for the virus as well because of her presence. Oscar gave his wife a strong hug before they took a seat near to their daughter. Without even being certain that she could hear, I comforted her.
Hilly’s spouse was asking the same questions as her. However, Alex’s responses were as ambiguous. Nobody knew with confidence what fate had in store for Lilly. They also didn’t want to give false assurances. Alex and the other specialists left the room after a short while, but Oscar wasn’t finished yet. He decided to follow them.
Alex eventually gave in to Oscar’s curiosity about the eggs and told him more about them, but only after he signed a contract committing him to keep the information private. Oscar nodded, astonished at what he was going to discover.
Desperate to preserve his daughter, Oscar signs the deal without hesitation. Oscar feels there’s more to the story as Alex starts to divulge details about the enigmatic eggs and the virus they contain. What other secrets are being withheld from him, he wonders? Will he later regret agreeing to this contract?
Oscar was taken aback when Alex disclosed that the virus originated from the eggs of an odd, potentially extraterrestrial, organism. How it might have gotten into Lilly’s chamber was beyond him. Though he had a lot of questions, he realized he had to remain composed and figure out how to save his kid.
Oscar’s shock gave way to acceptance when he realized he could rely on the legitimacy of the agreement he had signed. Now that he was thinking about his daughter, he wanted to know how she was doing. “How is she faring?With trepidation, he asked, hoping for good news.
Oscar’s daughter had finally awakened from her profound sleep, and he was ecstatic to hear that his blood had worked. Eager to see his little girl again, he asked Alex if he might see her.
Lilly questioned what had happened as they embraced. Her appearance had improved significantly in just a few hours. She was to remain overnight for observation, but tomorrow she would be free to return home if things continued to get better. In order to make their daughter feel comfortable, Hilly and Oscar stayed with her.
They asked whether they may finally go home the following day. But Alex informed them that was a challenging circumstance. because they needed to clean their house thoroughly and it was still under lockdown. Rather, they furnished Oscar and his family with a makeshift residence where they might remain until it was time for them to return home. The conclusion.
At 55, I Got a Ticket to Greece from a Man I Met Online, But I Wasn’t the One Who Arrived — Story of the Day
At 55, I flew to Greece to meet the man I’d fallen for online. But when I knocked on his door, someone else was already there—wearing my name and living my story.
All my life, I had been building a fortress. Brick by brick.
No towers. No knights. Just a microwave that beeped like a heart monitor, kids’ lunchboxes that always smelled like apples, dried-out markers, and sleepless nights.
I raised my daughter alone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Her father disappeared when she was three.
“Like the autumn wind blowing off a calendar,” I once said to my best friend Rosemary, “one page gone, no warning.”
I didn’t have time to cry.
There was rent to pay, clothes to wash, and fevers to battle. Some nights, I fell asleep in jeans, with spaghetti on my shirt. But I made it work. No nanny, no child support, no pity.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
And then… my girl grew up.
She married a sweet, freckled guy who called me ma’am and carried her bags like she was glass. Moved to another state. Started a life. She still called every Sunday.
“Hi, Mom! Guess what? I made lasagna without burning it!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I smiled every time.
“I’m proud of you, baby.”
Then, one morning, after her honeymoon, I sat in the kitchen holding my chipped mug and looked around. It was so quiet. No one to shout, “Where’s my math book!” No ponytails bouncing through the hallway. No spilled juice to clean.
Just 55-year-old me. And silence.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Loneliness doesn’t slam into your chest. It slips in through the window, soft like dusk.
You stop cooking authentic meals. You stop buying dresses. You sit with a blanket, watching rom-coms, and think:
“I don’t need grand passion. Just someone to sit next to me. Breathe beside me. That would be enough.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
And that’s when Rosemary burst into my life again, like a glitter bomb in a church.
“Then sign up for a dating site!” she said one afternoon, stomping into my living room in heels too high for logic.
“Rose, I’m 55. I’d rather bake bread.”
She rolled her eyes and dropped onto my couch.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“You’ve been baking bread for ten years! Enough already. It’s time you finally baked a man.”
I laughed. “You make it sound like I can sprinkle him with cinnamon and put him in the oven.”
“Honestly, that would be easier than dating at our age,” she muttered, yanking out her laptop. “Come here. We’re doing this.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Let me just find a photo where I don’t look like a saint or a school principal,” I said, scrolling through my camera roll.
“Oh! This one,” she said, holding up a picture from my niece’s wedding. “Soft smile. Shoulder exposed. Elegant but mysterious. Perfect.”
She clicked and scrolled like a professional speed dater.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Too much teeth. Too many fish. Why are they always holding fish?” Rosemary mumbled.
Then she froze.
“Wait. Here. Look.”
And there it was:
“Andreas58, Greece.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I leaned closer. A quiet smile. A tiny stone house with blue shutters in the background. A garden. Olive trees.
“Looks like he smells like olives and calm mornings,” I said.
“Ooooh,” Rosemary grinned. “And he messaged you FIRST!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“He did?”
She clicked. His messages were short. No emojis. No exclamation marks. But warm. Grounded. Real. He told me about his garden, the sea, baking fresh bread with rosemary, and collecting salt from the rocks.
And on the third day… he wrote:
“I’d love to invite you to visit me, Martha. Here, in Paros.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I just stared at the screen. My heart thudded like it hadn’t in years.
Am I still alive if I’m afraid of romance again? Could I really leave my little fortress? For an olive man?
I needed Rosemary. So I called her.
“Dinner tonight. Bring pizza. And whatever that fearless energy of yours is made of.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
“This is karma!” Rosemary shouted. “I’ve been digging through dating sites for six months like an archaeologist with a shovel, and you—bam!—you’ve got a ticket to Greece already!”
“It’s not a ticket. It’s just a message.”
“From a Greek man. Who owns olive trees. That’s basically a Nicholas Sparks novel in sandals.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Rosemary, I can’t just run off like that. This isn’t a trip to IKEA. This is a man. In a foreign country. He might be a bot from Pinterest, for all I know.”
Rosemary rolled her eyes. “Let’s be smart about this. Ask him for pictures—of his garden, the view from his house, I don’t care. If he’s fake, it’ll show.”
“And if he’s not?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“Then you pack your swimsuit and fly.”
I laughed, but wrote to him. He replied within the hour. The photos came in like a soft breeze.
The first showed a crooked stone path lined with lavender. The second—a little donkey with sleepy eyes standing. The third—a whitewashed house with blue shutters and a faded green chair.
And then… a final photo. A plane ticket. My name on it. Flight in four days.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
I stared at the screen like it was a magic trick. I blinked twice. Still there.
“Is this happening? Is this actually… real?”
“Let me see! Oh, God! Of course, real, silly! Pack your bags,” Rosemary exclaimed.
“Nope. Nope. I’m not going. At my age? Flying into the arms of a stranger? This is how people end up in documentaries!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Rosemary didn’t say anything at first. Just kept chewing her pizza.
Then she sighed. “Okay. I get it. It’s a lot.”
I nodded, hugging my arms around myself.
***
That night, after she left, I was curled on the couch under my favorite blanket when my phone buzzed.
Text from Rosemary: “Imagine! I got an invitation too! Flying to my Jean in Bordeaux. Yay!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Jean?” I frowned. “She never even mentioned a Jean.”
I stared at the message for a long time.
Then, I got up, walked to my desk, and opened the dating site. I had an irresistible desire to write to him, to thank him and accept his proposition. But the screen was empty.
His profile—gone. Our messages—gone. Everything—gone.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
He must’ve removed his account. Probably thought I ghosted him. But I still had the address. He had sent it in one of the early messages. I’d scribbled it on the back of a grocery receipt.
Moreover, I had the photo. And the plane ticket.
If not now, then when? If not me—then who?
I walked to the kitchen, poured a cup of tea, and whispered into the night,
“Screw it. I’m going to Greece.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
***
As I stepped off the ferry in Paros, the sun hit me like a soft, warm slap.
The air smelled different. Not like home. There, it was saltier. Wilder. I pulled my little suitcase behind me—it thumped like a stubborn child refusing to be dragged through adventure.
Past sleepy cats stretched on windowsills like they’d ruled the island for centuries. Past grandmothers in black scarves were sweeping their doorsteps.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I followed the blue dot on my phone screen. My heart pounded like it hadn’t in years.
What if he’s not there? What if it’s all a weird dream, and I’m standing in front of a stranger’s house in Greece?
I paused at the gate. Deep breath. Shoulders back. My fingers hovered over the bell. Ding. The door creaked open.
Wait… What?! No way! Rosemary!
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Barefoot. Wearing a flowing white dress. Her lipstick was fresh. Her hair was curled into soft waves. She looked like a yogurt commercial came to life.
“Rosemary? Weren’t you supposed to be in France?”
She tilted her head like a curious cat.
“Hello,” she purred. “You came? Oh, darling, that’s so unlike you! You said you weren’t flying. So I decided… to take the chance.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“You’re pretending to be me?”
“Technically, I created your account. Taught you everything. You were my… project. I just went to the final presentation.”
“But… how? Andreas’s account disappeared. And the messages, too.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, I saved the address, deleted your messages, and removed Andreas from your friends. Just in case you changed your mind. I didn’t know you knew how to save photos or the ticket.”
I wanted to scream. To cry. To slam the suitcase down and yell. But I didn’t. Just then, another shadow moved toward the door.
Andreas…
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Hi, ladies.” He looked from me to her.
Rosemary immediately latched onto him, grabbing his arm.
“This is my friend Rosemary. She just happened to come. We told you about her, remember?”
“I came because of your invitation. But…”
He looked at me. His eyes were dark like the sea waves.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Well… that’s strange. Martha already arrived earlier, but…”
“I’m Martha!” I blurted.
Rosemary chirped sweetly.
“Oh, Andreas, my friend just got a bit anxious about me leaving. She always babysat me. So she must’ve flown here to check if everything’s fine—and you’re not a scammer.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Andreas was clearly charmed by Rosemary. He laughed at her antics.
“Alright then… Stay. You can figure things out. We’ve got enough room here.”
Whatever magic was supposed to be there—it had been hijacked…
My friend was playing against me. But I had a chance to stay and set things straight. Andreas deserved the truth, even if it wasn’t as sparkling as Rosemary.
“I’ll stay,” I smiled, accepting the rules of Rosemary’s game.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
***
Dinner was delicious, the view was perfect, and the mood—tight, like Rosemary’s silk blouse after a croissant.
She was all smiles and giggles, filling the air with her voice like perfume with nowhere else to go.
“Andreas, do you have any grandkids?” Rosemary purred.
Finally! There it was. My chance.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
I set down my fork slowly, looked up with the calmest face I could manage, and said, “Didn’t he tell you he has a grandson named Richard?”
Rosemary’s face flickered, just for a second. Then she lit up.
“Oh, right! Your… Richard!”
I smiled politely.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“Oh, Andreas,” I added, looking straight at him, “but you don’t have a grandson. It’s a granddaughter. Rosie. She wears pink hair ties and loves drawing cats on the walls. And her favorite donkey—what’s his name again? Oh, that’s right. ‘Professor.'”
The table went quiet. Andreas turned to look at Rosemary. She froze, then let out a nervous chuckle.
“Andreas,” she said softly, trying to sound playful, “I think Rosemary is joking strangely. You know my memory…”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Her hand reached for her glass, and I noticed it trembled.
Mistake one. But I am not done.
“And Andreas, don’t you share the same hobby as Martha? It’s so sweet how you both enjoy the same things.”
Rosemary frowned for a moment… then lit up. “Oh yes! Antique shops! Andreas, that’s wonderful. What was your latest find? I bet this island has tons of little treasures!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Andreas set down his fork.
“There are no antique shops here. And I’m not into antiques.”
Mistake number two. Rosemary is on the hook now. I continue.
“Of course, Andreas. You restore old furniture. You told me the last thing you made was a beautiful table still in your garage. Remember you’re supposed to sell it to a woman down the street?”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Andreas frowned, then turned to Rosemary.
“You’re not Martha. How did I not see this right away? Show me your passport, please.”
She tried to laugh it off. “Oh, come on, don’t be dramatic…”
But passports don’t joke. A minute later, everything was on the table like the check at a restaurant. No surprises. Just an unpleasant truth.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
“I’m sorry,” Andreas said softly, turning back to Rosemary. “But I didn’t invite you.”
Rosemary’s smile cracked. She stood up fast.
“Real Martha’s boring! She’s quiet, always thinking things through, and never improvises! With her, it’ll feel like living in a museum!”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
“That’s exactly why I fell for her. For her attention to detail. For the pauses. For not rushing into things: because she wasn’t chasing thrills, she was seeking truth.”
“Oh, I just seized the moment to build happiness!” Rosemary yelled. “Martha was too slow and less invested than I was.”
“You cared more about the itinerary than the person,” Andreas replied. “You asked about the size of the house, the internet speed, the beaches. Martha… she knows what color ribbons Rosie wears.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Rosemary huffed and grabbed her bag.
“Well, suit yourself! But you’ll run from her in three days. You’ll get tired of the silence. And the buns daily.”
She stormed around the house like a hurricane, stuffing clothes into her suitcase with the fury of a tornado in heels. Then—slam. The door shook in its frame.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
Andreas and I just sat there on the terrace. The sea whispered in the distance. The night wrapped around us like a soft shawl.
We drank herbal tea without a word.
“Stay for a week,” he said after a while.
I looked at him. “What if I never want to leave?”
“Then we’ll buy another toothbrush.”
For illustration purposes only | Source: Pexels
And the following week…
We laughed. We baked buns. We picked olives with sticky fingers. We walked along the shore, not saying much.
I didn’t feel like a guest. I didn’t feel like someone passing through. I felt alive. And I felt… at home.
Andreas asked me to stay a bit longer. And I… wasn’t in a rush to go back.
For illustration purposes only | Source: Midjourney
Tell us what you think about this story and share it with your friends. It might inspire them and brighten their day.
Leave a Reply