Solstice Dreams

Prologue The island has always been enough. At least, that’s what they’ve told me my whole life. Solstice provides, the elders say. The ocean feeds, the land shelters, the sky watches over us. What more could you need? And I do love it here. I love the way the sun melts into the ocean at dusk, the way the sand is warm beneath my feet, the way the wind carries the scent of salt and plumeria through my window every morning. This island is my home, my heart, the only place I’ve ever known. But sometimes, late at night, when the waves stretch out like an endless road under the moonlight, I wonder what’s waiting beyond them. I wonder if the world is as big and bright as I imagine it to be—or if I’m just chasing something that doesn’t exist. “You’re thinking about leaving, aren’t you?” Kei stands beside me, arms crossed as she watches me stare at the horizon. My twin sister has always been able to read my mind before I even think. It’s an annoying habit when I want to be left alone, but right now, I don’t have the energy to pretend otherwise. I don’t answer right away. Instead, I dig my toes into the cool, damp sand. “I’m not thinking about leaving.” She snorts. “Liar.” I sigh, but she’s right. I do dream about it. About seeing what’s beyond the waves, about walking streets I’ve only read about in books, about feeling the pulse of a world that never stops moving. But it’s just that—a dream. Because I can’t leave. Not Solstice. Not our mother. She needs me here. The thought of leaving her behind, of stepping onto a boat and disappearing into a world she’ll never see, makes my chest tighten. She’s given up so much to raise us, to keep our family together. And as much as I long to see what’s out there, I can’t abandon her. So I stay. And I try to be content with the life I have. ••••••••••••••••••••••••• I perched on the bar counter, my fingers absentmindedly tracing the wooden surface. Leo stood behind the bar, wiping down empty glasses with a rag, his movements slow and deliberate. He stared at me for a long moment, his brow slightly furrowed. I let out a deep sigh, already feeling the weight of whatever he was about to say. “What? If you have something to say, just say it.” Leo set down the glass with a quiet clink and met my gaze. “Why are you still here?” I blinked. “What do you mean? I live here.” He shook his head, exhaling sharply. “You know what I mean. Isn’t your dream to explore the world? So why are you stuck on this island? There aren’t many people here, and you know we barely get visitors anymore.” I slid off the counter and settled onto one of the wooden high chairs, resting my elbows on the bar. “I’ve lived my whole life here. And we still get tourists, no matter how small the number. I can’t just leave the island… or my mom.” Leo, the world-class swimmer who had won first place at the World Aquatics Championships not long ago, always had a way of pushing boundaries. He had a restless energy to him, something that came from his need to be always moving, always striving for something greater. We’d grown up together, but it felt like his need to explore the world always left me behind. And now, with him working on his career, it was hard not to feel the distance between us growing. Leo sighed, running a hand through his tousled hair. “You got your own life,” he muttered, shaking his head. Before I could respond, familiar voices and laughter filled the air. I turned, relieved to see Elias and a few friends walking in. Elias, a dependable friend since high school, had been staying on the island indefinitely after studying abroad. His sharp hazel eyes and easygoing smile gave him an effortless charm, a stark contrast to the awkward guy he once was. I couldn’t help but smile as he settled next to me at the bar, looking just as relaxed as always. Elias stretched his arms, eyes flicking between Leo and me. “Leo, can I have a glass of juice?” he asked, drumming his fingers on the counter before turning his head toward me. “So, what’s up? Done with the tour guiding?” I glanced at Leo, who was still watching me, then exhaled, forcing a small smile. “Yeah… just another day.” The tension lingered, but at least, for now, I had an escape. Still, Leo’s words echoed in my mind. It was true—I wanted to explore, to see what was out there beyond the ocean’s horizon. But this place… it was all my mom had ever since she decided to raise us on her own. And as much as I longed to leave, I wasn’t sure I could ever walk away from that. We heard hurried footsteps approaching. We turned just in time to see Keilani running toward us, her phone clutched tightly in her hands. Her eyes were wide with excitement. “Omg, omg, you guys won’t believe it!” she practically shouted, bouncing on her feet. Keilani. My twin sister. We looked alike in the most obvious ways—same dark brown hair, same eyes—but that was where the similarities ended. Where I was quiet, introverted, and comfortable in the stillness of our island life, Keilani was loud, outgoing, and always seeking the next thrill, but despite our differences, we’d always had a bond that only twins could understand. Milo, who had just joined us, raised an eyebrow. He was another high school friend—someone who had turned heads even back then with his looks. Now, as a model, he had become even more striking, with his soft, flawless features and smooth, porcelain skin. Milo looked like he could easily be mistaken for a K-pop idol, with delicate, almost feminine beauty. “What’s going on?” Milo asked, his voice soft but filled with curiosity as he joined the group, leaning in to look at the phone Keilani was holding out to us. We all exchanged confused glances as Keilani shoved her phone toward us. The screen displayed a message, and as we leaned in to read it, my eyes widened. “Hi, this is Sam Freenz, the manager of Raphael Sinclair. We’re reaching out because our team is looking for accommodations on your island. Additionally, our film director has sent an official request to use the island for an upcoming movie production. Please let us know if this can be arranged.” A stunned silence settled over us as we processed the words. My eyes flickered from the message to Keilani, whose excitement was practically radiating off her. The weight of it sank in—our quiet island was about to change. Why here? Barely anyone knew of this place, and tourists were few. It seemed impossible for such a big production to choose us. The thought left me torn between excitement and disbelief. How did our little corner of the world attract something this big? How did our little island, so off the beaten path, end up on their radar?