The Truth Hurts

"The rest of the day was a blur for Matt. He couldn't get anything right, not breakfast, nothing!" I said as Nina was just staring back at me in amazement at the recent twist of events in my little tale.

"So Jasmine never aborted the baby and Isla never knew her father", she repeated in shock.

"Was it Matt's daughter?" Nina asked as she got up to stretch. As she looked out onto Cottesloe Beach, some cars were just parking out front, surfers in early to catch the surf coming in that morning. One of them actually knocked on the front door asking for a cup of coffee but Nina gestured that they were closed. The young scruffy haired surfer just walked away.

"He looks a bit like a young Nick", I said to Nina.

"Now that you've mentioned it, he does", she smiled.

"That's freaky. Anyway, is Isla Matt's daughter?" Nina asked again.

I stare out of the window and onto the beach. The surfers were out on the beach, some paddling in to catch a wave others already enjoying the swell of the morning. The white foam crashing onto the beach with a thunderous roar and I can faintly hear the squawk of seagulls flying above. I vividly remember that day when Jasmine finally arrived at Lighthouse Bungalow and till today I cannot fully wrap my head around the fact that Isla just literally walked into my life after all those years of lost hope. I never watched her grow into the beautiful woman that she was when I first laid eyes on her. I never got to watch her take her first steps and never heard her mention her first words. I never got to kiss her goodnight or make her breakfast in the morning. All the things I only dreamed of doing with Isla I had already missed out on. If she never came back into my life then maybe the pain and regret would be somewhat bearable but when I knew that she was there all along and that it was me who had left her, it didn't feel right at all.

I was lost for words and emotions to describe what I felt that day. All the questions whizzed around in my head and even today I find myself questioning myself and always wondering if this is all just a horrible mistake.

"Yes, she is", I finally answered.

Nina just stared at me, speechless. The awkward silence was deafening.

"What happens next?" Nina asked excitedly.

The morning Jasmine was to arrive, Matt had made arrangements for Ganesan to pick her up from the airport. Isla went along that afternoon but Matt had stayed back to prepare for dinner and also to calm his nerves. He tried to keep himself busy but Matt was too overwhelmed by all the thoughts running through his head. As the sun was about to set on Lighthouse Bungalow, Matt perched himself on a rock at the edge of the property overlooking the stunning views the Island of Langkawi offered. He turns around to face the road leading into the property and he can see the dust in the distance. Ganesan was making his way back from the airport. His chest was thumping so hard and he felt nauseas as he saw the car in the distance. The car finally slowed down and drove up to a halt at the front of the house. Matt took a deep breath, turned around and started walking toward the bungalow. He could see Ganesan taking luggage out of the boot of the Wira and Isla was helping her mother out of the back of the car. A wheelchair emerged from the boot and Matt could see a frail framed woman with a scarf covering her head, get out of the car and sit in the wheelchair.

Isla noticed him approach them and smiled. Then she leaned over to the woman and whispered something into her ear. As Matt approached the woman in the wheelchair she turned to look at him.

"Hi, Jasmine", Matt said.

She was first shocked, then her expression softened and she finally recognized him. She couldn't say anything or maybe she didn't know where to start, then she stared to tear and eventually she shook from crying. Matt knelt down and embraced her.

"Babe", she whispered, struggling to say anything else.

"Hi babe", he whispered back. "It's okay babe. It's okay."

Isla and Ganesan were staring at each other with confusion when they finally let go of each other. Jasmine wiped her eyes and tried to compose herself as Matt tried to contain himself.

"Isla baby, I don't know how else to say this to you sweetie", Jasmine said.

"What?" Ganesan replied.

"Just shut up Ganesan", Matt quickly snapped.

"Yeah, what is it mum?" Isla asked as she knelt next to her mother.

"Isla, this is your father."

The Beginning Of The End

The early morning was cool and calm. The beach was quiet, the coconut trees scattered across the retreat were still, almost like they were sleeping, and the water was like a slab of slightly rippled glass, reflecting the splendor of the sunrise. The tranquility was what Matt always woke up for, to experience the world as it were before the chaos of the day began. He stood by the patio of Lighthouse Bungalow with a cup of coffee in one hand and a cigarette in the other. He must have heard that name before but for the life of him, he could only recall one moment at this point, when that name meant something to him. It was the time when Jasmine and he decided to name the baby should it be girl. The bittersweet memory flashed before him.

She never wanted that baby. She made it clear to him. That is why he was in Langkawi. That is why he left for twenty years. He never understood or maybe could not bring himself to understand why she never wanted a part of us to live on. She opted to fix an already broken marriage than start a new life with him and it shattered him to pieces. When she told him that she was going to abort the pregnancy, he was devastated and when she finally told him that the marriage was worth saving it just took all the life out of him. So he left and that was some twenty odd years ago.

"Hi", he heard her say and for a while he thought it was Jasmine. Isla startled him out of his wondering dream. He turned to face her and there she was standing by the doorway. She sounded so much like her, Matt thought to himself.

"Hey there, what you doing up so early?"

"I couldn't sleep and I saw you from my window", she was pointing up to the second floor window as she smiled.

"Ganesan told me that you this often so I thought I'd come and see what all the fuss is about", her smile almost sarcastic but it was beautiful nonetheless.

"What, standing on the patio in the early morning?" Matt asked, slightly confused.

"No, staring at the beach. He told me you do it often. In fact he said you do it everyday around sunset but he didn't say you do it in the mornings too", her look was more concerned than worried.

"I should stitch that bastards mouth shut when I see him next", she knew he was joking despite the serious look on his face. She giggled slightly.

"So he's right then?" she asked as she moved closer to him. He kept silent watching the crack of dawn. Isla sat by the steps and stared into the early morning sunrise too.

"He says it’s matters of the heart", she continued, still absorbing the beauty of the still morning.

"You ask way too many questions, kiddo", Matt suggested.

"Let me ask a few then I might answer yours", he looked at her and smiled.

"Shoot", she snapped, not looking at him.

"Why are you here by yourself?"

"Because I'm checking it out for my mum. She went through therapy for cancer about six months ago and I just thought that it would be good for her to chill in a quiet and peaceful place. She deserves the break from reality I guess. So here I am checking it out."

"So far, so good?"

"It's perfect actually. She'll like it very much."

"So when does she get here?"

"I'll ring her later to tell her the good news then she should be here tomorrow morning, if all goes well", she said.

"Is she ok? Your mum, is she fit to go for a holiday?" Matt asked.

"Yeah, she is. She's still her cheerful self. She's strong like that."

The sun was now above the horizon and the bright orange and yellow morning sunlight lit up the dark blue sky. The clouds were heavy and wind was just breezing in slightly.

"Listen, I better get cracking with breakfast", Matt said quickly.

"Hey, It's your turn to answer some questions mister?!!" Isla said, almost shouting. She still had that smile on her face.

"I will, I promise, just not now. Give me your mother's details and I'll get that loud-mouthed Ganesan to pick her up from the airport", Matt said as he walked back into the retreat.

"What's her name?" Matt shouted from inside.

"Jasmine Raslan", Isla said and Matt just stopped in his tracks and turned to face her.

"Is your dad coming too?" He asked. He just had to know.

"I never knew my father." His heart was racing.