The Beginning

Sofia felt a strange sensation as she stepped outside into the afternoon sun. Antonio waited for her at her doorstep with his usual genuine smile.

"I know what you're thinking," he said as he linked arms with her. Sofi turned a suspicious eye in his direction. He said, "This is the first time you've ever left your house without sneaking out."

Sofi laughed and squeezed his arm affectionately. Toni felt his heart swell up inside of him. His thoughts drifted back to days when he could only earn Sofi's affection from a distance. It was almost too much for him being with her now, holding onto her, leading her to the one place that he used to fear more than anything.

The quaint row boat drifted along the seemingly endless river. The surface of the water was flecked with gold light from the weary sun. Mangrove trees swept over the murky trail. Toni looked around at the tropical haven that he had come to fear and respect. For once, he recognized the rare and exotic treasure of the Amazon.

Sofi lounged in the boat across from Toni with a sense of relief, as if an incredible burden had been lifted from her. She leaned back, letting the last remnants of sunshine kiss her forehead and her cheeks.

The boat rocked.

Sofi and Toni turned their attention to the sound of an abrupt splash. A shock of pink severed through the water. The graceful figure flew through the air for only a moment and disappeared back down into the cloudy depths. It was just a harmless river dolphin.

Toni and Sofi locked eyes with each other. After a moment of strange silence, they burst into hysterical laughter. Toni's laugh carried a touch of anxiety, for the sight of the dolphin strongly reminded him of the creatures that tormented him that summer.

The dolphin's pink form brought back memories of the darkness that masked the eyes of a certain Encantado. Toni replayed memory of the night of the great storm, as well as the memory of Julio. When Toni saw the eyes of the monster, it was like looking into a mirror. As if Toni had peered at a younger, darker version of himself. The resemblance between him and the Encantado made the beast all the more sinister.

Toni shook the memory from his mind and returned his gaze back to Sofi, who was still in the midst of her laughter. Her eyes were bright, content, and slightly orange. As Toni's gaze trailed over her, he could not believe what he was seeing. Sofi noticed his amazed expression and inquired, "Is something wrong?"

Toni just smiled and said, "No. It's just . . . I've never seen you this happy. Ever."

He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. He was not going to tell her what he saw. He wanted to keep her as oblivious for as long as possible. He wanted to keep her happy for as long as possible. Because if he told Sofi what he saw, he would lose her forever.

So Toni sat back and set his sights back on the water, trying to drown his worries in its depths. His thoughts drifted to the dolphin that had rocked the boat earlier. No matter how hard he concentrated on the memory of its brilliant pink silhouette, he couldn't shake off what was bothering him.

Toni stared out at the water in silent anguish as Sofi's dark brown curls slowly bled to a shade as red and intense as the Amazon sun sinking deep into the horizon.

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Obrigada,

~ Coco