â MARISOL HERNANDEZ â
Known faces were always good to find.
The way Marisol lived her life it was very uncommon for her to bump into the same person twice unless they lived in Fire Island. As she had learned while growing up there, it was impossible not to bump into the same person twice, or three times, or even way more than that. It was both a curse and a blessing to be one of the 200 people who lived there.
Still, Haliâs face was a sight for sore eyes. When had they been last when they had met one another? Was it Thailand? Maldives? Somewhere in the Middle East? She couldnât remember, their travels had always been busy, even more when their destinations met the other.Â
Even after letting her go, Sol put a small distance between them with each hand on the brunetteâs shoulder, almost as if she could swear she was a mirage. Before she could even answer Hali, Sol had the immediate idea of pulling her by the hand somewhere the music wasnât as loud and people werenât crowding as much around them.Â
Once they had found the food stalls with some picnic benches, she let go of Haliâs hand and took a seat right on the table.
âJesus, I cannot believe itâs actually you,â Sol said excited with a laugh.
âTo answer your questions though,â she took a moment and signaled the man inside the stall, asking for two waters, âIâm fine, really. Must have gotten to the island what? A week ago? Maybe a little more and I donât know for how long Iâm staying, you know me,â ever since landing in Fire Island had Marisol wanted to leave, book the first plane ticket, but she had promised her father at least until Fourth of July⌠but could she really stay that long?Â
Soon enough Marisol had the waters in hand, paying for them with some change she had taken there she gave Halide one before screwing the cap on hers and taking a healthy sip. âDad had an accident and he was in the hospital for a while, so Iâm seeing him back to health, after heâs up and walking⌠who knows where the wind will take me? But Iâm desperately wanting to go rock climbing, so Iâm trying to decide between Yosemite, Kalymnos, Rock Island, Dolemites⌠which ever the plane ticket is less expensive and wherever is closer to my next surfing destination. If youâre up for it, please come with me!â Marisol extended the invitation with a large smile. âWhat about you? What the hell are you doing here and for how long your staying?â
A week. No wonder they hadnât run into each other until now.
Hali could hole up inside of her studio for months at a time if the world deigned to forget about her for awhile, and when you added her hermit tendencies to everything with Sasha... well, it made sense.
âIâm so sorry to hear about your dad,â she murmured as they eased away from the dancers and the music on stage. âIf Iâd known I wouldnât paid him a visit. Maybe dropped off some dinners to his house.â She didnât know the man from any other face in the crowd, not really, but itâs just who she was. Especially considering his daughter was one of her only legitimate friends. Hali didnât do well with strangers. Didnât usually open up to anyone her sister hadnât vetted and befriended first.
Marisol was perhaps the lone exception.
With a grateful smile she accepted the drink, guzzling down her own few sips, before she gestures vaguely to where they were. âWell, you know my grandparents live here. I probably wouldâve ended up on the island eventually as it was, butââ she trickled off into silence. Had Sol seen Sasha yet? Had she heard? It felt odd speaking about her sisters grief without her present and yet she found herself confiding in Marisol, anyway.
âWell, after Justin passed Sasha decided to move here indefinitely. I was worried about her, so I moved too.â Her rented house in Cherry Woods was probably the closest thing to roots sheâd had since graduating from high school. âI guess Iâm here for however long I need to be. However long she needs me.â And only time would be able to determine that. Haliâs lips quirked with another smile, though, when she considered the tentative plans. âBut nobody said that means I canât fit in a short vacation, right? If you head out let me know beforehand. Maybe weâll end up together on the same flight.â