She stared at the distinctive appearance of her bosom buddy in uneasiness. Her flawless complexion was as pale as death. Her lovely hair was all tousled, and she was even wearing a diving suit that already dried up from not changing to proper clothes for too long.

Her eyes were also closed, and she was not moving at all. Erin furrowed her eyebrows as she tried to guess what had taken place a few hours ago.

She has no shark bites or jellyfish marks. If she was hurt, she would demand her to go to the emergency room. But instead, she requested to be driven back straight to their stay in hotel.

She was still examining her when she noticed that her lips were twitching upward. In as much as she wanted to run mad at her, she was more gratified that she was in one piece.

She was also on the rear seat. Her thighs were near a cus.h.i.+oned pillow for Zoe's head to rest at. Whenever Zoe was exhausted and feeling clingy, she would always lay down like this with her.

In a split second, she toppled her forehead with a flip of her nimble finger.

"Ouch!" Zoe grimaced and placed her palm on her already reddening forehead. "What was that for?"

Erin grinned, copying a Ches.h.i.+re cat from ear to ear. "That was 'You made me worry' message."

Zoe sat up and pinched her arm. "Ahh! What the h.e.l.l?" Erin scowled at her and rubbed her arm.

"That was an 'I'm okay, no need to be upset' reply back." Zoe winked at her and sn.i.g.g.e.red.

If it was a different scenario, Erin would not let her off the hook. But because she felt elated that Zoe was fine, she turned a blind eye on her.

"Now that you're up, tell me, tell me. How did your tour turnout?" Erin inquired. Her two willing ears are eager to hear Zoe's story.

Zoe seated herself properly as she narrated what transpired in the Reeftastic to Erin. "That's weird. Where is Mrs. Gong now? Is she eaten by sharks or perhaps captured by mermaids?"

"I don't get it. It's like she's a ghost or something. I'm even contemplating if she was real or just a fiction of my imagination." Zoe responded.

"Do you know someone who has information about her? She looked as if she had an idea about your parents." Erin probed on.

She quickly flicked her finger as if a bulb lightened up in her mind. "Amity Song! Definitely! I'll return to the local hospital where she was brought that first day and inquire if she already left. If she vanished, there would be a huge probability that I was not merely making things up."

"That's an excellent idea. So what took you so long underwater then? Why did the Reeftastic arrive here without you?"

Zoe drew in a deep breath as she recalled the rare events that happened then. She suddenly blurted out. "Am I a bad person?"

Erin was astonished at her sudden s.h.i.+ft of the topic. "Huh? That was so out of the blue! Of course not! You cannot even slay an ant. Why did you ask?"

Zoe tightened her lovely lips and glanced elsewhere. She appeared like she wanted to keep mum about that part of the story. It is possible that she doesn't want her to get worried.

Erin s.n.a.t.c.hed her hand and squeezed it with hers. "I read somewhere that no problem on earth is not common to man. But G.o.d is faithful. He will not cause you to suffer beyond what you can bear. He will also make a way for you to escape it."

Zoe smiled as her brilliant eyes twinkled. "Absolutely, I know." She compressed her lips to hide her giggles as she looked outside the car window.

Erin froze. She didn't expect that subtle expression from her. She thought she would cry hysterically or stay quiet as she ruminates what she just stated. Not unless someone really came to save her from whatever she experienced there.

"You sly fox! I knew it!" Erin chortled as she playfully slapped Zoe.

"What?" Zoe faked an ignorant response, but she couldn't control it. She laughed alongside her.

"Did you kiss?" Erin joked around, hoping to lighten up the cheerful mood of her dear friend even more. She was expecting her to punch her again. But instead, her dainty fingers gently put her l.u.s.trous hair behind her ears before answering.

"Almost."

Zoe's answer made her jump to her feet, enough for her to knock her head on the roof of the cab.

"Ouch!" She grimaced as she caressed her head. She blinked repeatedly and stared at Zoe with bulging eyes. She stroked Zoe's neck with the hind part of her hand to check if she had a fever or not.

"You're unbelievable! You must be back from an enchanted island!" She blurted out.

*********************************

When things change inside you, 

Things change around you. 

*********************************

Like the story? Buy me a coffee. ;)

https://ko-fi.com/authorhada.s.sah

paypal.me/authorhada.s.sah

***

FEEL FREE TO GET IN TOUCH WITH ME! :)

Discord ID: Hada.s.sah#7714

Facebook: @authorhada.s.sah

Instagram: #authorhada.s.sah

Twitter: @AuthorHada.s.sah

Lots of love! :*

Please go to to read the latest chapters for free