Truely Home

I sat alone in the rocky sand on Mermaid’s Beach, staring at the three iconic mermaids of Daydream Island, one of the Barrier Reef’s islands. The sun was going to set soon, the sky turning lavender but the waters still azure. I heard children playing far behind me at Skipper’s Kids Club, but I was in deep thought. This was the most beautiful place on Earth, I was most certain about that. It made the valley in California look dull and spiritless. I could never remember being in a place so beautiful and full of life. I have done so many things this past week. I scuba-dived in the Great Barrier Reef, which was my dream since I was fourteen. I snorkeled in Daydream Island’s private fringing coral reef, which was just amazing. I could take a few steps off the island and be right next to the coral reef! I can’t remember laughing so hard as when I felt little Clownfish tickle my legs. 1

I went hiking in the Rainforest! So not only did I experience some of the reefs in the ocean, but I got to experience some nature in the rainforest! 2

Most girls my age, which I met here on the island, rather spend their day trapped in their hotel suite or at the spa, but I just couldn’t stay there with people. I wanted to be by nature’s side, experiencing pure bliss by what the Earth gives us. 3

I rode in a kayak, which I personally thought was a good workout for my arms. I won’t forget mentioning myself becoming much tanner during my time outside! I sometimes forgot who was in the mirror when I looked at myself. Who was that person? It surely couldn’t be my reflection! But it was, and I was here, in my dreamland. 4

All this seemed like a beautiful dream, but unfortunately my dream is going to end tragically when I leave in two days back to North America. Back to the polluted cities, dull deserts, dry valleys. I used to think America was the most beautiful place on Earth but I was proven wrong! This was the home of my heart. I know somehow, and for some reason, God planned for me to find my home through adventure. I now realize my home was here in Australia. I don’t want to be a tourist here! I want to be a local! I wanted to wake up in a new bed, in a new city, in a new country! I wanted to wake up in Queensland, near the Great Barrier Reef. I would study here and accomplish my dream of becoming a marine biologist. My life’s goal would be complete! Well, after I get a Golden Retriever and name him El Dorado. 5

I looked down at the rocky sand, more like pebbles than sand, but it didn’t matter. It was still too perfect. I felt the light swish of water on my feet, the warm water sending tingles up my body. The view was simply amazing! Not very far from Daydream Island, behind the Statue of the Three Mermaids, were three other islands. I felt like I could swim to them and taking less than thirty or ten minutes! I might not be able to swim that far, but I could try. Although it is probably not recommended, especially since there is a chance of Stingers, which is what the locals call Jellyfish. 6

I sighed and let the bliss sink in, my eyes softening to the thought of going home. I felt something, no someone, sitting down next to me. I looked to my left and saw Chandler staring at the Three Mermaids as well. I weakly smiled and looked away from him, but I caught myself peeking back at him. He had those big, brown eyes that you just had to stare into, feeling relaxed inside of you when doing so. His hair was short and a shade of dark brown, almost black but not dark enough to be considered so. The very front of his hair was slightly spiked up, which I personally loved. He wore his uniform, since he worked driving motorboats to the Great Barrier Reef for scuba-divers. That was where I met him. I can’t say it was love at first sight. The other girls that went with me, who I met here on the island also, were obviously attracted to him. The way I saw those girls looking at him gave me the hint that dozens, maybe hundreds depending on how long Chandler worked here, of other girls gave him that look. Who knows how many girls he grew comfortable with? Since he worked in the sun most of the time his skin was tan. It wasn’t overly done, making him darker than he should be, but it was a slight tan that gave him that glowing complexion, also bringing out his thick, black eyelashes and black eyebrows. Before I can even think of his surfer body, I don’t want to forget those lips of his. I happen to know he has soft lips, softer than any other guys’ back in California. His lower lip was thicker that his upper lip, making my thick lips look less kissable than his! I am jealous, I will admit that, and then again I am happy knowing I actually touched those lips! It was only once, and I think it will stay that way, considering me going back home.7

“Thanks.” I said to him, remembering that if it weren’t for him, I wouldn’t be staying in the most luxurious suite of the Daydream Island Resort, the Daydream Suite. His older brother worked at the hotel, but it was Chandler who was able to mess with the computer and the reservation system. The suite was reserved to a couple, but they wouldn’t arrive until next week. No one else was able to afford the suite, so Chandler thought it would be nice that the suite wouldn’t be lonely. The only tricky part was to enter my room without letting any of the hotel workers see me. The suite was worth it though. Chandler didn’t seem to know what I was thanking him for. He gave me a long look, searching my eyes hoping to find the answer. He didn’t. I smiled, softly laughing to myself. “For the Daydream Suite.” I explained to him. He weakly smiled at me.8

“Anything for you.” He said with his Australian accent, batting his long, smoky eyelashes at me. I laughed and gave him a gentle push. He sighed and looked away, back at the mermaids. 9

“Are you alright? Or do you just like looking at the topless mermaids?” I asked him jokingly. I put my hand on his shoulder. He was much taller than me. I probably only stood tall enough to reach his neck, but I couldn’t look directly in his eyes. I often had to tiptoe to even give him a quick kiss on his cheek. It never bothered me. I always had a strong belief of the man being taller and older than the woman, although I knew they were just stereotypes. I loved being able to look up towards a man, literally. Chandler looked back at me, grinning when he realized I was wearing very short shorts and a bikini top. I was tanning earlier today, but I think I might have turned into bacon if I hadn’t left earlier than expected. 10

“Do you really have to go?” he finally asked me, looking into my eyes. I was suddenly drowning in a feeling of dread. “Can’t you stay?” he asked me, his eyes begging me to stay.11

“I have to go back home. I have my friends and my family to return to.” I explained to him. He angrily looked away, back at the Mermaids. I moved closer to him, the pebbles underneath us brought pain to my knees. “Not that you’re not important. You know you mean a lot to me.” I assured him, reaching out to caress his face. He moved my hand away, looking down angrily. I sighed and used both my hands to cup his face and make him look back up at me. “You know you do.” I said. He put his hands at my hips, letting his hands stroke my sides, tracing the curves of my waist. This is the time when I’m glad I’m a Latina. 12

“But why can’t you stay?” he asked me. I wrapped my arms around his neck, giving him a quick kiss on those thick lips of his, then quickly moved away from him. I felt the warm water under my legs now. 13

“Because! I just…I just have to go home.” I replied, wishing he wouldn’t bring up the subject. His eyes shot me a glare of desperation.14

“But do you want to?” he asked me. There was a long silence. Tears began to build up in my eyes. Did I want to go home? This, THIS, was my home. Chandler saw my tears and opened up his arms, knowing that I would jump into his embrace and rest my head on his shoulder, letting my tears run down my cheeks and onto his shirt. He stroked my hair back, kissing my bare shoulder. I had to stay. I just had to! Not here on Daydream Island, but somewhere in Queensland where Chandler lived. I moved away from him, letting my lips lock to his for a long moment. I felt my body grow red hot. I pulled away.15

“I don’t want to.” I told him, a smile on my lips. His eyes sparkled. “I want to stay here. With you. I just don’t know if I can leave my family and friends behind.” I said. He stroked my face, a silly smile on his face.16

“I’ll be your friend, Cerulean, I’ll be your family.” He said. He took my hand and helped me up to my feet. He took me into his arms and lifted me off Mermaid Beach. I begged for him to let me go, knowing there were children nearby, but he refused. I laughed until we reached the hotel, where he set me down on my feet. “You’ll stay. I promise you will. You’ll find a place here, maybe an apartment first, but I promise you’ll have a house. I swear on my life you will.” He said. I smiled, knowing what he meant. 17

“A house with you.” I said, knowing he was too embarrassed to say that himself. He shyly smiled, the light of the sunset being absorbed into his big, brown eyes. He took my hand and walked me into the hotel, hiding from his brother. Not long after, we arrived at my suite. “How about I get ready and we can go eat at Mermaids a La Carte Restaurant?” I asked him, unlocking the door to my suite. He ran inside first, pulling me in and quickly closing the door behind him.18

“Or we can stay here in this roomy hotel suite, you know, the suite with the king-sized bed and everything.” He said jokingly. I laughed and shook my head.19

“It’s alright. I’ll pass.” I answered. And for the first time, I knew for sure, that I was really home. 20