5 and Found (1/2)

That night, Lyra dreamt of something so lovely.

The grand doors swung open and light immediately flooded the dim room. A girl with her face dressed in a long white gown with intricate lace patterns and beads was standing outside. The mermaid dress complimented her hourglass figure and looked like it came right out of Angela's bridal collection sketches. The sight was simply breathtaking.

Looping her arm around a handsome middle-aged man who didn't look a day over thirty, they both walked down the aisle.

In the young bride's hand, was a gorgeous bouquet of the freshest red and white roses from their family flower shop.

'True love united' Lyra unconsciously said aloud as the daughter and father walked by. As they passed, the man turned and gave the girl standing in the audience a smile. It had been close to five years since she had last seen it, but it still carried every ounce of its charm.

Lyra's eyes followed her doppelgänger as she approached the altar where a tall and handsome groom greeted her. His black hair which he usually kept casually styled was gelled back today, giving him an entirely different look and highlighting the energetic green of his twinkling eyes.

In his specially tailored tux, the one and only Kurtis Wellington stood, looking better than anybody should have a right to. He held Angela's hands in his larger ones and produced a stunning smile, one that she thought she would never get to see again.

Though it wasn't for her, it was enough that he could smile like that again. It was more than enough.

A tear trickled down Lyra's rosy cheeks.

”Why are you crying?” a soothing male voice asked as she felt something brush against her cheek, wiping her tears away.

'You don't have to worry,' Lyra answered as she recognized the voice talking to her. It was the same guardian angel frequenting her recent dreams. 'These are happy tears for the two people I care the most about…'

The sleeping girl curled her trembling lips upwards. 'See angel, I'm happy.'

”Such a sad smile…” he commented before leaving her alone.

Lyra was awoken by the calming sound of ocean waves sweeping onto the beach. Opening her eyes to the zestful rays of sunlight illuminating her room, the familiar setting of her room came into view.

[Was it all a dream?]

Shifting her body to get up, a sharp pain from her ankle forced her back into reality. Lyra moved out of bed and hurried over to the window, taking the ankle brace for granted and being a little reckless.

The blue sky was clear with no traces of gray clouds left. The birds were singing their usual morning songs just like her first few days on the island, the most peaceful days she had albeit having to pretend to be Angela.

[No. No. No.] Lyra internally panicked before throwing on a gray cardigan over the silk sleeping gown someone had helped her change into sometime the previous night. She was in such a rush to get outside that she completely missed the crutches thoughtfully placed by the foot of her bed.

She was half running and half limping to the shore of the beach when a few desperate voices came calling after her. Right behind her tail were the island staff, who like her, were still in their sleepwear and not in their usual uniform.

”Ms. Lyra! You can't be running out of bed! You should be resting!” Maggie, the girl around her age, called.