5 and Found

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.

Lyra halted. They seemed to all know by now, that she wasn't Angela. Somehow that made it easier to look them in the eye and apologize.

"I'm really sorry…for pretending to be my sister. I hope you all can forgive me," Lyra bowed sincerely. "And really, Lyra is fine. No need to be so formal."

They forgave her right away. The two maids hugged the younger twin while the head butler gave her a fatherly pat.

"We're not mad, just worried. Please don't go running around again. Do you know how big this island is? We almost didn't find you!" Sasha, the older of the two maids lectured.

"But you guys did! So thank you very much," Lyra thanked from the bottom of her heart and went in for another hug.

The maids exchanged nervous expressions before turning to Leonard who revealed the truth.

"The one who found you was Mr. Wellington."

[Kurtis? He came out looking for me?]

"The young master found you freezing in a little cave camouflaged by the rocks. There was no cellular signal so he couldn't call any of us for help. So singlehandedly, he carried you out of the rocky areas and walked back! But then-" Maggie ran on before Leonard stopped her.

Lyra looked at the staff with anxious curiosity. When no one said anything, she could already assume it had to do with his previous injury.

She didn't linger a second longer before eagerly heading back to the villa, but even in her urgency, the sight of the newly docked yacht by the jetty did not slip her attention. The weather was safe for traveling again.

Although Lyra wanted to find the little black box Kurtis threw away before facing him again, she couldn't stop her worried heart from longing to see and confirm that he was alright first. Though he would most likely order her to leave right away, she needed to see him and say her last words. She only prayed he would be willing to listen.

By the time Maggie helped her hobble up the second flight of stairs, the master room door was wide open.

"Did young master wake up already?" Maggie tilted her head in wonder. "But he just fell asleep not long ago…"

Lyra didn't wait for Maggie to help her across the hallway into his room. She couldn't wait another torturous second longer.

But when she reached the entrance to his room, she took a step back in candid surprise.

On a chair pulled up against the bed, a splitting image of herself sat comfortably with her hand atop the sleeping patient's hand. Sensing that she wasn't the only visitor, the girl turned her pretty head and lifted a finger to her perfect lush lips.

"Shhh…he's still sleeping," she half whispered and half mouthed with that pretty voice of hers.

Honestly taken aback, Lyra could only softly manage one word. "Angela?"

Honestly taken aback, Lyra could only softly manage one word. "Angela?"