Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
chapter one. between here and elsewhere
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
THIS SUMMER VACATION was exactly the kind of break Alicia had been craving.
The French Riviera, or Côte d'Azur, with its breathtaking beauty, had felt like a dream. The manicured gardens stretched as far as the eye could see, and the pristine infinity pool seemed to merge seamlessly with the horizon of the glittering Mediterranean. Everywhere she looked was a postcard come to life - the kind of elegance that made it clear to Alicia she was right where she belonged.
The villa itself was a masterpiece, with its cool marble floors that seemed to hum under her feet, keeping the summer heat at bay. The vine-covered pergola, where she'd sip chilled lemonade in the soft afternoons, was her favorite spot. She would sit there, nestled in the dappled shade, letting the hours slip away as the sea breeze played with her hair. Every moment was dipped in luxury, from the crisp linens on her bed to the scent of lavender that hung in the air.
Her days had been a blur of indulgence. She'd spend the mornings lazily basking in the sun, her skin turning the perfect shade of sun-kissed gold, and the evenings were nothing short of magical. Exclusive dinner parties at the finest wizarding restaurants on the Riviera, where her parents mingled effortlessly with the crème de la crème of European magical society. Witches and wizards dressed in silks and jewels, exchanging hushed secrets and gossip, their laughter sparkling under the stars. Alicia had adored every second of it. It had been the epitome of sophistication, the life she knew she deserved.
But now, it all felt a million miles away. Gone were the marble floors, the lavender-scented evenings, the sense of ease that came with being somewhere so perfectly suited to her tastes.
Instead, she was here. Trudging - and truly, there was no other word for it - along an uneven dirt path that seemed designed to ruin her brand-new shoes. Each step felt like a personal affront, the stones jutting out to trip her up, the dust clinging to her every movement. With each unsteady step, Alicia muttered bitterly under her breath, as though that alone might stave off the rising tide of frustration building inside her.
