A week after saying her goodbyes to her father, in a daze one morning, she found herself rushing through a maze of corridors. She was running somewhere with no recollection, knowing only that she desperately needed a phone.
It was summertime, and friends Sophie and Grace had traveled to the coast for their long-awaited holiday. Their room was small, yet conveniently close to the sea. They spent all day sunbathing, their skin now a rich bronze, with a growing desire to bask more and lounge on the sand. At noon, the sun scorched relentlessly, melting everything around, even the air. It was as hot as a sauna, making it difficult to breathe.
“I can’t take this anymore,” Sophie said, getting up from her towel. “Let’s go somewhere. It’s so hot here we’ll turn to biscuits soon.”
“I agree,” replied Grace, suggesting, “Let’s head to the café. It’s cool there, and we can grab some lunch, too.”
The friends headed to a local café, where they could sit in the shade and enjoy a snack. A long queue had already formed, people waiting patiently.
Sophie shielded her head with a book, protecting herself from the blistering sun. Unfortunately, she had left her hat at home, so she squinted.
“Alright?” asked Grace. “I’ll dash for some ice cream. It’ll cool us down a bit.”
“Want me to come?” suggested Sophie.
“Oh no!” Grace insisted. “Look at all these people. They’ll take our spot if you leave, so stay here!”
Grace went off while Sophie stood by a scorching brick building under the punishing sun. The line wasn’t moving, and she squinted against the brightness.
A ringing filled her ears, with everything in her mind muddled. She found herself far out at sea, unable to spot the shore. Lying on the water, she noticed it wasn’t salty. She took a few sips and felt immediately better. A vast, beautiful rainbow stretched across the sky, and the water sparkled like a kaleidoscope. Everything around was stunning. She felt as light as a feather bobbing on the waves, surrounded by happiness… People strolled across the rainbow. Among them, she noticed her father, who had passed away a year ago. He turned and waved at her, smiling.
Suddenly, voices called from above.
“Over here! Here!” they shouted in unison. “Give us your hand! Lift her up.”
Several hands grabbed and hoisted Sophie into a boat. She relaxed, reluctant to be in the boat, and the voices became clearer, mostly female.
“Who has some smelling salts?” they urged. “Bring more water!”
Sophie regained consciousness, opening her eyes.
“Phew, my friend,” Grace sighed with relief. “You frightened me! I was so scared!”
Sophie was startled and disappointed to find herself sitting on the café veranda, not out at sea.
“That was a sunstroke, dear!” her friend chided, thanking the others for their help. “Ah, I told you: ‘Take a hat, take a hat!’ and you were like, ‘Yes, sure!’ And now look!”
The crowd dispersed.
“Oh Grace,” Sophie said thoughtfully. “I saw my dad there. He’s been gone almost a year, but he looked just as young.”
The girls finally entered the café and sat at a table. Sophie remained deep in thought about the unexpected encounter with her father.
A week after saying her goodbyes to her father, in a daze one morning, she found herself rushing through a maze of corridors. She was running somewhere with no recollection, knowing only that she desperately needed a phone.
She dashed into an unfamiliar room, spotting an old-fashioned phone hanging on the wall, worn and tattered. She was elated. Grabbing the phone, she exclaimed:
“Hello! Hello!”
“It’s alright! Sophie, what’s happened?” her father’s voice echoed, “Calm down and tell me. I’ll help however I can.”
In life, her father wasn’t much of a talker, always starting with a succinct “Okay” when he wanted to inquire about something. The girl felt happy hearing her father’s voice with all its familiar intonations. She hurriedly recounted everything: about herself, her mother, her cousin, his niece, who defended her master’s thesis three days after his passing. He had eagerly awaited that day but hadn’t lived to see it.
“Dad, can you imagine,” she laughed. “As promised, she aced it!”
Then she stopped, as if waking up.
“Hello, Dad!” she yelled into the phone. “Dad, you’re not here! How are you talking to me?”
“Sometimes,” her father said, “when you truly want something, it happens, my girl, it happens.”
Even in life, her father never believed in any kind of mysticism, a materialist by nature, now convincing her otherwise. She awakened, remembering the scene where she sat with Grace in the café. Then, she gazed at the rainbow over the water.
And now… She still can’t shake the feeling that her father is somewhere close by and supporting her every day.
