"Do you want your phone back or not?" Nico asks, glancing at Max.
"Yes," Max mutters.
Nico raises his eyebrows expectantly.
"Please, Nico," Max says.
"Anything for you, my friend," Nico says. He holds out another mango for the monkey.
"Ask him not to throw the phone," Max says.
The monkey holds the phone out to Nico.
"Good boy," Nico says, taking the phone and handing it to Max. "They're smarter than you think."
The monkey climbs back up the trees. I watch as it peels the mango with its teeth before biting into the juicy flesh.
We continue down the steps.
When we reach the bottom, we’re all pulled toward the view. We’re standing atop a cliff, watching white-blue water crashing against the secluded beach below.
I'm hypnotized by the beauty of it.
We all take photos together before visiting the temple. When the show is about to start, we head toward the amphitheater. I'm surprised to see that it's an open-air theater carved right into the cliff's edge. The stage is at the center and offers magnificent views of the ocean and the sunset.
A few months ago, I wouldn't even have been able to dream of a moment like this.
And now I'm in Bali with my husband and my sisters. I don't know how it happened, but life finally got better somehow.
Nico passes around a packet of fried banana chips as soon as we sit down.
"How many things do you have inside that bag?" Briar asks.
"I'm a dad," Nico says. "I don't go anywhere without snacks."
"I'm not complaining," Briar says. "I'm six months pregnant, so I appreciate all the snacks."
A hush falls over the crowd as the show begins. The performers fill the stage, dancing and singing a story about gods and monsters. There's fire, smoke, and chanting.
At one point, the sky turns such a vibrant shade of orange that it takes my breath away.
I glance at my sisters.
I'm so happy for both of them. They have everything they ever dreamed about—freedom, love, and happiness. As for me, I never even let myself dream, but Dante placed the whole world at my feet anyway. I lean my head on his shoulder as I watch the story unfold.
Through the fire, I see something.
Someone.
The sky is darker than before, so I can't say for sure, but I think they're watching me. Through the flames, I see red curls. I see a woman staring right at me. As I look at her, I get the feeling of the rest of the world melting away.
She stands out like a beacon in the dark.
She tilts her head to the side, showing me more of her face. And then she stands and walks toward the exit. When she's about to disappear from view, she turns and looks right at me.
She doesn't say a word, but I think she wants me to follow her.
She's a stranger. It's not wise for me to go anywhere with her. But I feel drawn toward her for some reason.
