18. Zola

Chapter 18

Zola

I stared out of the window at the fluffy white clouds.

It was more relaxing than I had ever realized. For one, my nerves were not shot to pieces and I actually felt safe which was quite a contrast to the constant background anxiety I’d experienced for the last two weeks. I didn’t realize the weight of it as over the days it had begun to feel normal.

I felt heartbroken and empty and with no sense of how to go on. And Dante … well, he was the only person who offered refuge so I guess now I couldn’t help but look at him. I looked at him and his eyes were closed and his features were relaxed. He looked softer and even more beautiful, but I reminded myself of his deep involvement in this entire situation and resolved not to let my guard down.

The truth was, until further proof, I was travelling with the enemy.

My father’s unread email came to mind and I decided to read it.

One of the flight attendants came over with refreshments and appetizers. I pushed my glasses up to sit on the top of my head. I wasn't hungry and was about to decline, but when I glimpsed the appetizing-looking finger sandwiches and accepted a plate, I took a bite of a smoked salmon sandwich, wiped my hands, and opened my laptop. My hands were shaking as I navigated to my inbox and clicked on his familiar personal email address. In it he furnished me with another email address and told me that password to access that email was the answer to the question:

“Who saved you on your 16th birthday?”

My eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. “What?” I said out loud.

“Is everything okay?” Dante asked.

I thought he was asleep, but he was looking at me with such alertness he could not possibly have been sleeping.

“Yes,” I whispered, and he closed his eyes again.

I almost couldn’t look, the grief was crippling, but I followed Papa’s instructions. Using Dante’s name as the password I entered my father’s secret email inbox. There was only one item in it. It was a letter addressed to me. It bore the date of my sixteenth birthday.

I took a deep breath, lowered my head and began to read my father’s email to me from beyond the grave.