Moonlit Fae

As I slipped on my navy blue jacket over a white polo shirt adorned with a delicate rose flower design, I felt a sense of style and comfort. My favorite black jeans and sunglasses added a cool, laid-back vibe to my outfit. My mom drove me to the airport in Venice, Italy, on a warm dusk evening, the sun's gentle glow casting a golden light on the city. The temperature was balmy, a pleasant contrast to the warmer climate that awaited me at my destination.

Hilo, Hawaii - a town perpetually shrouded in a veil of rain, with over two hundred and seventy five days of torrential downpours annually. The active volcano's mighty presence seems to summon the skies to weep, casting a melancholic mist over the streets. This town holds the darkest memories of my life, a place where terror and tragedy struck on a fateful day. The day I lost my beloved grandmother in a horrific accident, a trauma that still haunts me. Also a town where my mother swept me up in her arms and fled, leaving behind the only home I knew at just five years old. Every summer, I was forced to return to this place, spending a month with my father, a constant reminder of the pain and loss that lingered. And now, I find myself exiled in this very town, a prisoner of my own memories. Hilo, a place I've grown to abhor, yet cannot escape.

I love Venice, also known as the city of canals or the floating city.I love its winding canals, the stunning architecture and beautiful bridges, I love watching the sunset with its blistering heat.

"Ivy, are you certain you want to do this?" my mom asked for the umpteenth time, her concern etched on her face. She knew how much I loathed Hilo, and I could sense her trepidation. We shared a striking resemblance, with the same silver eyes, blonde silky hair, and identical facial features, except for the smile lines that crinkled around her eyes. Our past was complicated, with my parents, Jacob Evans and my mom, divorcing when I was just a baby. She later married Mason, a wealthy entrepreneur who afforded us a luxurious life in Venice, one of the world's most expensive cities. But despite our comfortable existence, I felt an inexplicable pull to Hilo, a place I once vowed to never return to.

"Don't worry, Mom, I'll be okay," I reassured her, trying to sound convincing. But my mind was racing with thoughts of how awkward it would be to see my dad after two whole years. I had barely spoken to him since our last visit, and the thought of reunifying with him in Hilo made my stomach twist with anxiety. "It's been a long time since I saw Dad," I added, trying to justify my decision, but my inner thoughts betrayed my true feelings.

"Are you really sure ivy?".My mom asked again, her voice laced with a hint of uncertainty, as if willing me to reconsider. I could sense her reluctance to let me go, her desire to protect me from the unknown. But I knew I had to do this, no matter how hard it was. I was leaving behind the warmth and love of my mother, the one person who had always been there for me. But I knew she wasn't alone, she had Mason, her rock, her partner in every sense. And so, with a deep breath, I reassured her once more,

"Yes, Mom, I'm sure.'"

"Alright then," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. She enveloped me in a warm, tight hug, holding me close as if she'd never let me go. A goodbye peck on the cheek, and she struggled to contain her tears. I felt my own eyes welling up in response. "Call me when you arrive, and tell Jacob I said hi," she managed to say, her voice cracking. We shared one last wave before I turned and walked away, heading towards my flight, feeling the weight of our goodbye settle in my heart.

As I settled into my window seat on the plane, I gazed out at Venice's breathtaking nightlife, a mix of sadness and frustration swirling within me. I had booked this seat specifically to bid farewell to the city I loved, but now it felt like a cruel taunt. The old man beside me was already snoring loudly, mere minutes into the flight, and I couldn't help but feel annoyed. The thought of being trapped with him for the next twenty-three hours and thirty-eight minutes was daunting, to say the least. I couldn't shake the feeling that this was a bad omen, a sign that this journey would be a long and arduous one.

I look at the other passengers, almost all of the them were putting on a head set, I was just regretting not remembering to take my earpiece when my mom suggested it earlier on. I have a long and dreadful day ahead of me.

I lazily stretched out my hand to adjust my seat, not bothering to look. But instead of finding the button, I accidentally pressed down on the old man's seat, causing it to recline abruptly. He jolted awake with a startled expression, as if he'd seen a ghost in his dreams. I quickly covered my face with my sleeping mask, feigning sleep, hoping to avoid any awkwardness. My heart raced with amusement and a hint of guilt, as I lay there, pretending to be oblivious to the commotion I'd just caused.

I wondered if the old man was staring at me, his silence a stark contrast to his earlier snoring. I peeked at him sideways, regretting it instantly. He was watching porn and masturbating, oblivious to my presence. I felt a surge of disgust and hatred towards myself, the situation, and even Hilo, Hawaii, my destination. I turned around slowly, trying not to draw attention to myself, and was surprised to see the other passengers sleeping peacefully. It was as if they were all unaware of the disturbing scene unfolding beside me. I wondered if I was just imagining things, if they were all secretly indulging in my similar behavior. The thought sent a shiver down my spine.

I was consumed by anxiety throughout the flight, fearful that the old man might sneak a glance at me during his disturbing activity. My anxiety was so overwhelming that I eventually fell asleep, unaware of my surroundings. It wasn't until the blonde flight attendant announced our descent and instructed us to buckle up that I jolted awake. The cabin reeked of ammonia and bleach, a stark contrast to the serene landscape outside. I chose to ignore the old man's behavior, not wanting to draw attention to myself and risk a dramatic confrontation like those I'd seen on TikTok. As I exited the plane, I noticed the side-eye from fellow passengers, their disgust and judgment palpable. I pushed through the discomfort, eager to escape the confines of the aircraft. The evening air was chilly and cloudy, with a hint of rain, a fitting match for my turbulent emotions.

As I stepped into the arrivals area, my dad rushed towards me, his arms opening wide for a hug. But instead of a warm embrace, he offered a stiff, one-armed gesture, his eyes locked onto mine with a mix of hope and uncertainty.

"It's great to see you, Ivy," he said, his smile faltering as he took in my appearance. I forced a smile in response, my heart racing as I sensed his scrutiny. "You've changed a lot," he observed, his gaze lingering on me like a detective searching for clues. I felt a surge of irritation as he sniffed the air, his eyes narrowing as if trying to place the acrid scent clinging to me. "Do you have any alkaline substances on you?" he asked, his tone laced with suspicion. My mind raced back to the disturbing scene on the plane, my anxiety spiking as I struggled to shake off the memory.

"Come on, Dad, let's go," I said, quickly changing the subject as I lugged my luggage towards his car. My exhausted tone and contorted facial expression only seemed to pique his curiosity, and I could tell he was wondering if I'd gotten into some kind of altercation on the plane. He loaded my lightweight luggage into the back boot, remarking that my Italian clothes were too flimsy for Hawaii's climate. My mom and I had made a last-minute effort to supplement my winter wardrobe, but it was still sparse enough to fit comfortably in his cruiser. With at least a two-hour drive ahead of us, I settled into the passenger seat, ready to put the long flight and uncomfortable encounter behind me.

As we drove, I grew increasingly uncomfortable under my dad's scrutiny. He kept sneaking glances at me through the rearview mirror, and I worried he'd detected the unpleasant smell lingering on me.

"What, Dad?" I asked, trying to sound nonchalant while holding my breath and gazing out the window.

"Oh, nothing," he replied, pausing briefly. "I just wondered if you got into a fight on the plane or something. You look pretty upset." His tone suggested he wasn't expecting a response, and I exhaled in relief, grateful he hadn't caught on to the true reason for my unease.

"No, Dad, it's just...complicated. I don't want to talk about it," I said, trying to sound sincere. He smiled in relief.

"So it's not about me then". He said. I realized I'd been so focused on keeping my secret that I hadn't considered his feelings. "Of course not, Dad. I'm really happy to see you," I said, trying to sound genuine and gentle. He smiled again, looking a bit embarrassed. My dad and I have always struggled with expressing our emotions out loud, but in that moment, I knew we understood each other.

"So how is Madison?" He asked while looking at the rear view mirror.

"Mom's fine". I responded curtly as I kept looking out the window avoiding eye contact. It was already raining in Hilo. Well I didn't expect much, I at least expected it to wait till I've reached my destination though.

"You know I bought you a good car," he said . This topic actually picked my interest as I looked at him with him staring at me like he was monitoring my reaction from the rear view mirror. Yeah that's one of the agreements I made with my dad via coming to Hilo, to choose walking or rather have father drive me to school everyday in his police cruiser. Yes my dad is the Head sheriff of Hilo.

"What kinda car". I asked curiously while looking at him.

"Um.. yeah it's actually a Volvo, old but good. I got the engine replaced, runs pretty well'. He said. But for some reason it seems like he was hiding something. I imagine several kind of Volvo like my crush, Volvo S60 T5 Momentum. Yeah like hell, that's far above his budget.

"How much did you buy it". I asked him.

"Don't worry about it ivy, I bought it as a home coming gift". He said, his tone sounds as if he was trying to please me. My questions became more of an interrogation, so I just had to drop it.

"Thanks dad". I said as grateful as I possibly could.

"Don't worry about it ivy". He said trying so hard to suppress his feelings, if he were a girl, his face would've undoubtedly turned pink.

Well that was pretty much it for our conversation, the rest we just commented on the weather which was still wet, as I looked outside the window.

It was beautiful in hilo, that I cannot deny. The breathtaking natural beauty, the fertile rainforest and blooming gardens with a great filter. Even more to see when you explore, the dramatic waterfalls, the two active volcanoes, I just realized that I didn't actually hated Hilo town, it's more like I hated leaving Venice for Hilo.