1st Person POV

Her voice rang throughout the echoey light house, making me sigh.

"¿Hola mi vida, como estas ?"

I responded with a soft smile.

"Hi baby, I'm good."

I heard her let out a knowing hum.

"You sure baby, you sound rough...?"

I knew I had to be honest with her or she would get the answers squeezed out of Afine or my Tia.

"Baby, my love... I may have a lead on my mom," I whispered, feeling Afine's hand rub my right shoulder comfortingly.

"Babe, a-are you serious, a-are you sure, mi vida ?"

I let out a shaky sigh, feeling tears brim my eyes as I tried to calm down before responding.

"Y-Yeah babe... b-but it could just be a stupid joke, b-but my name was on a letter i-in a bottle, Mr. Yuzuku fished it out on shore th-this morning," I sniffled, wiping at my nose, "i-it had coordinates, t-that could lead to something."

I felt stupid just explaining, it took a lot out of me to admit that I had hope.

Hope that my mom could still be alive...

"W-What about your dad ? D-Do you think i-it could've been him too ? N-Not just your mom ?"

I breathed in, a wet sniffle echoing around the lighthouse.

"M'not sure, s'not very clear from the note, i-it doesn't say whether i-it's from either of my parents, i-it just says "I'm alive." a-and it doesn't clarify who..."

I let out a wet sob, Afine pulling me into his arms, wrapping his arms around me, rubbing my back.

"I-Is that all it says mi vida ? O-Or is there more to it ?"

I sighed, putting my phone down onto my lap and putting my head into Afine's shoulder.

"T-There more to it, I-I just can't talk right now, m'to overwhelmed."

She hummed softly, letting out a small sigh.

"Does Afine know ?"

I nodded, before realizing she can't see me.

"M'right here Tailah, Adhira's had it a little rough this morning..."

He ran his fingers through my hair as he picked up the phone.

"Are you guys at home ?"

I squeezed my eyes shut tightly, shaking my head, Afine chuckled softly, ruffling my hair before responding,

"We're at the light house, looking for clues before we ask anyone for a boat."

The familiar sound of her car engine starting up had me reaching out grabbing the phone from Afine.

"Y-You're coming this way...?"

She let out a soft chuckle, responding in a soft voice, "Sí mi vida, of course."

I wiped at my tears as I sat up properly, a sad smile pulling at my lips as I brought my knees up to my chest.

"O-Okay u-um... c-can we hang up ?, w-want you to be safe..."

I heard a small laugh from both Afine and Tailah before Tailah said anything to answer my question.

"Yeah, anything to make you happy my love, I'll see you soon, okay. I love you."

I sniffled, a small okay slipping past my lips and Tailah's audible little "mwah" as she gave a short kiss to end the call.

Afine ruffled my hair, giving me a knowing look.

"You still haven't told her, huh ?"

I shook my head, shooting him a playful glare.

"Now's not the time, I haven't even introduced her to my mom! Your mom is basically my mom at this point, she got so happy meeting Tailah, but I'm just scared that...my mom will never get to meet her."

Afine gave me a disapproving look.

"Don't say that, come on Adhie, we finally have a lead now and you're going to quit ?"

I shrugged, hugging my knees closer to my chest.

"I...I don't know, it's...it's just a lot, finally having a lead after so long...I just need a sec... s-some time, something... I don't know..."

Afine hummed in understanding, tapping his fingers against the bench we were sitting on.

"I didn't even know she was alive before this point- I don't even know if it was her who sent it, it-it could've been my dad, b-but I don't even know if mom ever found him when she left o-or if she was even looking for him in the first place."

Afine's head fell with a sigh, I can't really say he didn't know my pain, his dad went missing for a good 5 months and it nearly drove him insane.

But my parents have been missing for almost 11 years.

I slumped back against the wall, letting my legs fall to the floor with a sigh.

"I-I just...I don't know, I can't think straight because I'm thinking to much, and..." I sighed, groaning, "Fuck."

I heard the familiar sound of Tailah's car pulling up on the gravel road.

The light house door opened a few short minutes later.

"¿Mi amor, estabas llorando ?"

I shook my head as she cupped my cheeks gently, and when Afine scoffed she gave me a knowing looking.

"Mentirosa, baby...why lie ? What's going on with you, d-do you not trust me anymore ?"

My head shot up at her question.

"Yes! I do, I really do, I-I'm just scared. T-This is new, a-and scary a-and I'm trying not to scream, throw up, and cry, all at the same time."

I sobbed out, Afine's hand gently taking mine, giving it a light squeeze.

"Mi amor, my love... baby, it's okay you'll be fine,...it'll be fine, you're strong, your search for your mother... it's,...it's heartwarming yet so so heartbreaking to see...seeing you like this hurts mi vida, but I believe in you."

She pressed a kiss to my forhead, leaning her head against mine.

"Te quiero mucho, te amo tanto... como el sol ama a la luna, baby...you've gotta understand that, no more hiding under lies and no more keeping things from me, you know Afine tells me when you cry at night, that's why the very next day I hug you like my life depends on it because you don't tell me these things baby."

Afine let out a chuckle, standing up from his spot beside me as Tailah pulled away from me.

He leaned down and kissed the top of my head.

"Te amo tantisima prima, you know that. You're my little cousin, I've practically raised you, I care for you and want what's best for you, I also want you to keep Tailah in your life, because she's the best thing that's ever happened to you, you tell me that everyday."

He walked out of the lighthouse with a sigh, pulling out his phone when he was half way through the door.

"I-I love you..."

I whispered, looking up at Tailah.

She froze, bending down to my level from where I sat.

She pressed her face against her knees and she let out a sigh, lifting her head and putting her hands to her knees before patting them lightly, seemingly not knowing what to say.

"I know baby, I know. I love you too, thank you for telling me."

I slid down to the floor and into her lap, cupping her cheeks and pulling her into a kiss.

"I-I'm sorry I lied, a-and I-I'm sorry I don't tell you things, i-it's just that I'm scared, scared of feelings, scared of loving someone as great as you because I feel like I don't deserve you, my heart hurts so much because I feel like I don't treat you good enough, you're my everything and...fuck, I need you."

I sobbed, out of breath as I stuffed my face into her neck.

"Princess..."

Her voice was barely above a whisper.

"A-And I-I can't breathe properly when I'm around you because you have this air to you that takes my breath away, a-and the way you look at me just breaks me, I love you as much as the sun loves the moon too."

I rambled on after she didn't say a word, I hid my face in her chest as I curled into her lap, then she pulled me into her arms the quickest she ever has, and it took me a second for me to realize she was trembling.

"Fuck you, why do you have to be a writer, fucking loser."

She breathed as she sobbed, pulling a laugh from me.

"I'm your loser."

I kissed her tear stained cheek.

"Ew cheesy!"

She exclaimed, kissing me all over my face.

"I fucking love you..."

I whispered, placing a kiss against her neck.

"No but seriously fuck you, I bet your little writer heart is planning to use this cheesy ass conversation in one of your stupidly amazing books."

She pressed her forhead against mine, pulling a laugh from both of us as we looked at each others tear stained cheeks.

"I love you."