EVENTYDE ISLAND ISN'T ANYTHING LIKE THE IMAGES ONLINE.

In fact, it feels like I booked a ticket to a completely different destination — in a good way, though.

It's a small, quiet island with the subtle sounds of nature permeating the stillness. A crystal sea is speckled with adults and children, and chirping birds sit on expansive palm trees, their large leaves allowing a soft breeze to waft in every so often. There's only one central indoor lobby area near the back of the resort that faces the sea with small, hut-like, brown rooms lined up neatly on either side. The crisp, cool air smells of sea salt and sweet flowers, and no matter how many breaths I take, the refreshing scent never completely habituates.

Now that I'm here, I don't have to worry. No expectations, no worrying about my future. Just a carefree adventure for me, myself, and I.

But is this also as irresponsible as it is exciting? Yes. Am I likely to fail an exam or two from being here instead of studying for my finals? Also, yes. But looking around at where I am, the obligation to care dissipates into the sunny sky.

The receptionist at the lobby gives me an odd look when I check in, almost as if he's never come across a visitor like me. Then again, given the spontaneity of my decision to come here, maybe he hasn't seen an unprepared, short, brown girl dressed in jeans and a blouse by herself at an island resort. If it wasn't obvious enough that a vacation spot like this is usually accompanied by families and couples, the tilt of the receptionist's head definitely makes me feel more out of place.

"Um, Karina Arslan. A-r-s-l-a-n." I hand him my driver's license when he asks for my name and identification.

As he keys the information into his computer, I take a moment to check out the lobby. Coming here before summer break seems to have been a good idea because it's empty for the most part, save for a few older couples and young kids floating around in the lounge. There's a small gift shop in the far corner — swimsuits and souvenirs peek out through the windows — and a juice bar on the opposite side with ice cream and desserts on display.

A smile tugs at the corner of my lips, and a rush of excitement flows through me as I cling to the duffle bag on my shoulder.

Soft creaks from the boardwalk beneath my feet keep me company as I stroll to the smallest room (and cheapest because, hello! I'm still a broke college student!) on the far side of the island. There's a group of rowdy, tall, sun-kissed boys in swimming shorts that pass by, laughing and shoving at each other. An unexpected blush flares across my cheeks as I realize that they're shirtless, and my gaze immediately tears away from them.

Keep it together. We're not here to find a summer romance, no matter how badly you'd want to shove it into Maham's face.

It's still difficult for me to accept that I'm actually here on Eventyde Island. It feels like a dream, the lucidity of it all being blurred by the reality of what I've done to get here. And buying a one-way ticket to make myself feel even more obnoxious definitely takes the cake for Worst Decisions I've ever made — terrible, but not one that I regret. At least, not yet. Hopefully.

Later that evening, I sit near the shore with a book in my lap. I'm almost at the climax of the story, and I can't help but grow annoyed at the characters. Why can't Terrence Cho just grow up and tell his best friend he loves her? It can't be that hard to say it. The entire book could have easily been told in one chapter had it not been for the angsty, stubborn male lead's inability to express his emotions effectively. But then again, there wouldn't have been a story to tell in the first place if saying those three little words were easy. The journey, I conclude, is what's important. The development and growth — what you learn and what you experience.

Is that what's supposed to happen to me?

What should I expect from being here? Is this supposed to give me some sort of epiphany about my life? Is that how these things work? You take time off and travel somewhere far in order to feel some sort of spiritual enlightenment. But how long does it take for that to happen?

The evening begins to fall as I look out onto the horizon, the orange sun saluting the world goodbye as its pale rays streak across the magenta sky and disperse over the water into infinitesimal sparkles.

Waves lick at the pale sand around my toes before retreating back into the deep abyss, and that's all I can hear sitting this close to the cerulean sea — the gentle lull in sync with each slow breath I take. Like a comforting friend who knows when to talk versus when to listen. It doesn't make me feel so alone, as if it's reminding me that even though I'm here by myself, I'm not — not really, anyway.

I turn the page, prepared to read the next chapter when something in the water catches my eye: flecks of bright silver. Clustering together in a line, they oscillate across under waves and towards...

a bridge?

An old wooden bridge that definitely wasn't there before. Thin leafy vines coil around the rope railing, emanating an earthy scent so different from that of Eventyde. It's hard to tell where it ends as the other side is obscured by a thick, green forest. If I squint my eyes hard enough, blue butterflies are visible, fluttering at the forest's entrance as if they're patiently waiting for someone to approach them.

And before I even give myself a chance to reconsider, I find myself walking across the bridge, entranced by its mystery and curious about its destination.

A/N: If you caught the 24 Hours reference then you are a real one :)

—k .