Page 28 of Broken Destiny

“It’s the last one tomorrow, I promise,” Greg replied with a grin. “After that, we head to Cowichan Bay and then back to the city.” He paused before adding, “I managed to get permission from your lovely future wife to extend the party for another week. Now it’s time for a dip and the floating bar.”

“The floating what?”

“You’ll see,” Greg said, winking at me. “Let’s go.”

And a floating bar it was.

The Tiki Bar drifted toward us across the water, its palm-thatched roof swaying gently in the breeze. Colourful cushions lined the seating area, and music pulsed from hidden speakers. A group of girls were already on board, laughing and dancing, clearly another surprise Greg had arranged.

Soon enough, we were dancing and singing along to the music, our laughter blending with the sound of waves slapping against the sides of the boat. My college friend, Martin, rolled a joint and passed it to me, his grin wide and unapologetic.

It had been a long time since I had smoked one.

I hesitated for a second before taking it from him. Inhaling slowly, I felt the familiar euphoric sensation spread through my body—a tingling warmth beginning in my head, then drifting down through my chest before expanding outward into my limbs. I drew in another deep breath, holding it for a moment before releasing it into the evening air. My muscles loosened, and the tension I carried began to dissolve.

I closed my eyes.

Nyah’s face appeared.

I opened my eyes again, blinking against the wave of memory.

The music around me buzzed louder now, the rhythm vibrating through my bones. The salty scent of the ocean filled my lungs, and the dwindling sun cast golden reflections across the water, turning the entire scene into something almost dreamlike.

And just like that, another memory surfaced as I closed my eyes.

I remembered the night Nyah and I had gone skinny dipping during a summer visit to my sister’s house. We had slipped quietlyout of our rooms after everyone fell asleep, sneaking down to the beach beneath a sky full of stars. The world had felt hushed and intimate, darkness wrapping around us, keeping our secret safe.

She had removed her pyjamas slowly before stepping into the water. Moonlight shimmered across her skin, turning her silhouette into something magnificent.

She had glanced back at me, her eyes shining. “Beautiful, isn’t it?”

“Breathtaking,” I’d replied, my voice barely above a whisper as I watched her disappear into the water.

A few seconds later, I had followed her in, wrapping my arms around her from behind, pulling her close as her fingers threaded through my hair.

Our bodies moved together naturally, her heartbeat matching mine, sending electric pulses through my veins. Our breaths deepened, blending into one rhythm as passion and desire built between us, consuming everything else, ending in perfect bliss.

Nothing existed beyond the two of us… not the world, not the future, not the consequences.

Only us.

The memory faded slowly as I opened my eyes again, the present rushing back into focus. Almost automatically, I reached into my pocket and pulled out my wallet. My fingers brushed against the letter tucked safely inside, its edges worn from being handled countless times.

I’d felt like a fool for doubting my mother and her warning about Nyah in the beginning. I’d believed she was overreacting, interfering, and judging without understanding.

Looking back now, I couldn’t shake the uncomfortable comprehension that she had been right from the start. She always tried to protect me, and I hadn’t listened.

It had taken me years to accept it, but I believed now that everything between Nyah and me had been a lie... a carefully planned deception that ended with her taking the money and disappearing.

I shook my head sharply, trying to push my thoughts away beforethey swallowed me whole. Then I stood up and rejoined the others, throwing myself back into the noise and chaos of the party.

Dancing with girls whose names I didn’t even bother to remember, I let the music drown out my thoughts. I allowed the laughter, the alcohol, and the reckless energy of the night to carry me forward.

Still, even in the middle of the crowd, Nyah’s face stayed in my mind, fading slowly into the darkness as the night wore on.

On Friday,we checked into a five-star hotel in Cowichan Bay.

I stepped out onto the balcony and looked across the oceanfront, taking in the peaceful view before me. The scene felt almost unreal in its quiet beauty. The hotel faced the wharf, where sailboats rocked gently in the water beside fishing vessels and floating homes. The entire village carried a charm that felt both simple and timeless.