The cramped place, with hardly enough room to shimmy in, offered more shelter than standing out in the open—exposed. 

And the best part... 

No beasts to be worried about. 

After shimmying back and forth through the opening, I squeeze past the tight entrance with minor scrapes. Thus, with much anticipation, I checked my new hiding spot.

For the time being, at least. 

Nothing of great concern jumped at me as the space seemed uninhabited, with nothing to worry about.

Although headspace didn't pose an issue, I didn't want to take my chances and risk another blow to my head. The last thing I wanted was another concussion. So, I crawled to the furthest corner instead.

Then...

The overpowering stench of must and sulfur filled the room, making it hard to breathe without gagging.

Cough!

"Fuck! No wonder this place is empty." I spat in between fits of coughs and gags.

After my rebellious stomach calmed down, my mind went into overdrive and focused on my fresh injuries. I grimace at the sight of filth clinging to me.

"These will get infected if I don't clean them."

I rummaged through my bag while I mumbled my concerns. Too preoccupied with the mystery of my current dilemma, I failed to spot some packing cubes.

"Yass! At least I can wear something decent!" I chanted, declaring my victory as I pulled out a change of clothes and some baby wipes. 

First, I shed my destroyed rags and wiped off the grit and grime sticking to my skin, being extra careful with my scrapes and bruises. Satisfied with my cleaning, I produced an antibacterial gel bottle from a side pocket and applied it where necessary.

The oddly satisfying sting kicked my desire to survive and push its boundaries.

Then, down with my outfit. Dumbfounded, I stared at the meshy thong and bralette set, revealing shorts and a simple tank top. Without other options, I don the scanty garments before digging in for some footwear. Thanking my lucky stars, I produce another cube containing shoes and socks.

Once ready, I resumed my previous task: clue-hunting in my wallet. While going through the array of to-dos and checklists, I realized something important.

"Crap! I'm a disorganized hot mess who likes to wear skimpy clothes. Why do I have this clutter when I have a working phone?"

Then, the realization hit me in full force, smacking me in the face.

"No, I'm fucking forgetful! Just what I need."

With renewed hope, I searched high and low for a scrap of paper that didn't fit with the other stuff. Yet, an overly decorated reminder slip revealed itself to me.

“Yes!"

But as I touched the note, an electric current shot from my finger to my brain. The world around me turned pitch black as an overwhelming attachment of love wrapped over my senses, followed by peace.

My vision tunneled as my consciousness came about. The image of a handsome man filled my sight. He became sharper with every passing second. 

What stood out the most were his piercing blue eyes, gracing his regal features and carrying intense passion. His smile was captivating, while his honeyed lips had a delicious consistency that had my eyes drawn to them. The impression left me quite breathless.

"Nuh-uh! I'll give you this only if you keep it in your wallet. Charmaine went through the trouble to make it look pretty." The man had pulled away his hand with my arch nemesis phone and a colorful note. "I want you to remember!"

Just as it started, the vision disappeared. The memory of the man's deep voice sent shivers down my spine. But once again, I found myself back in the small enclosure. I opened the delicate paper, and my eyes watered seconds later.

The highlight of our day is waking by y0ur side. Always reflect on that.

~Te amo mucho, Leo & Charmaine

Tears streaked down my face as my emotions flowed like an abundant river after a snow melt. I read the message many times until the words became a blurry jumble of squiggles. The memory turned too painful to bear, so I set my treasure aside.

"Damn! I must be so forgetful that I need a stinking note to remind me of my PIN." 

A wave of hopelessness slammed hard against my senses, followed by a dawning realization. The flourishes on certain characters captured my attention. 

"That's interesting! I have t, f, k, o, s, a. Mmm, let's try this!"

I brought back the lock screen to life and stared at the numbers for a moment. Realization doused my thoughts—a minor victory with great significance.

"Let's see... 8, 3, 5, 6?!... No, that's a 0, 7, 2."

The gates to my cellphone-hood opened up, greeting me with the most beautiful family picture ever. I stood in between the man from my flashback and a stunning brunette. We smooched together for a selfie. A desperate sigh escaped my lips as sadness clouded my vision.

"Puñeta! I forgot who they are—fucking blank slate."

I touched the screen with a light caress. My heart drummed in rapid succession as rivulets tracked their way down my face anew. We look so happy...

And in love.

"I want you to remember!" The memory drifted back.

"I must find them. They can be in danger."

A sting to my soul amplified as I spotted the photos app.

I stared.

For some weird reason, the bottom of my stomach dropped as I realized I was about to discover painful, lost memories. With a shaky finger, I opened the app. Many precious moments filled the screen. Diving for the library button, I found what I was looking for: albums of important life events. I perused the earliest videos until I came to a stop. 

Kayla & Leo's Garden Wedding

My mouth dried as my chest tightened while I opened the folder—expecting. I tried to swallow a scratchy gulp of saliva, but nothing seemed to pass the lump in my throat. Taking a deep breath, I reached for the water bottle and sipped before returning to the phone.

Acknowledgment dawned on me as I scrolled through the pictures.

"Is it possible Charmaine wasn't part of our lives during this time?"

Mulling it over, I tapped on the first video in the collection. The image of an older man walking me down the aisle came to life. On that day, I wore a sexy wedding gown and a radiant smile.

"This must be my dad..."

My voice trailed off as I stared at the video. 

The events continued on that day as I continued my joyous stroll to the altar, where the dreamy man of the hour had waited. The next swipe took me to another recording. Leo looked straight into my eyes, about to say something.

"The day we first met at that restaurant remains forever etched in my mind. The boys and I were hungry, super rowdy, a little tipsy, and... childish."

"Annoying, more than likely!" An unknown guest had shouted from the back, garnering laughter from everyone.

"Yeah, that's right! Very annoying, as my friend graciously pointed out. But you braved my antics with a smile. But... you took something else—my heart. You drew me in with your beauty and spirit. Since I can't imagine a day without you. So, like a little weird stalker, I waited to ask you on a date. My soul is still yours, always. I wish for us to savor heaven together."

The crowd had erupted in cat whistles and cheers at his confession. Obviously, my cheeks had glowed bright red while trying to hide my embarrassment.

"I know I'm chocked full of flaws and hard to control, but you make me a better man. To wake by your side and to see you smile is my purpose in life—and the next. And even after death, I will search for you and remain inseparable. I can't live without you."

I paused the recording. 

My frayed emotions unraveled as my body convulsed with agony and despair. After regaining my composure and calmed a bit, I continued with the video.

"Leo, mi amor! I must admit you annoyed me the first time we met. But your charm swept me off my feet, and you became the man of my dreams. When you waited for me, I saw your softer and caring side. After our first kiss, I knew you were the one. And that the best was yet to come. I'm confident our love will transcend a silly mortal life. That after death, we will find each other. We will be together. But be patient. I'm not perfect. I can be forgetful and selfish, but with your kisses, please... remind me we're in this as one."

My vows, promises, and commitments ended up being my downfall—my undoing. In a desperate attempt to compose myself, I frantically scrolled through my feed, seeking a quick escape. My mouth went dry at what unfolded before my eyes. The images of our reception glued my eyes to the screen.

Leo's tall and sinewy physique was a sight to behold. Gliding across the dance floor of her tiny screen, he moved with the grace of a professional dancer. He had taken the lead in their mating ritual, as their gaze never faltered away from each other.

At one point, he had kneeled down and slid his hand under my dress, producing my panties and a garter belt.

"I will keep these." He had announced to the wild crowd as he flaunted my underwear and shoved them in his pocket. "But this lovely thing... will go to a lucky man. Whoever that is, I hope you find the truest of love like I have."

I laughed, but...

An agonizing sob ripped through my ribcage, contrasting the cheering from the recording, echoing throughout the small cave.

"I will find you, Leo, I promise."

Only after my sobbing died off did I scroll to a recent album.

Kayla, Leo, & Charmaine Beach Handfasting

Trepidation almost stopped me.

But the determination to learn more about my family propelled me.

When I opened the folder, I found more videos and photos, and an elegant woman with kind yet piercing blue eyes graced most of the images.

"This must be Charmaine. She's so fucking beautiful." This time, I skipped the videos. They would be my undoing. "I'll stick to pictures and leave the videos for later. When I'm less of a wreck."

This time around, the refreshing ceremony seemed carefree and intimate. Other than the three of us, there were only a handful of people gathered for a beach party. Like before, Leo looked stunning with his tousled blonde hair and simple yet elegant clothes.

Now...

Both Charmaine and I wore some sexy little numbers that left little to the imagination and desirable. We appeared beyond smitten. The devotion that reflected off our eyes spoke volumes of our love.

"I will find the two of you. I promise!" 

The pledge flew off my lips as I closed the app. Suddenly, a thought crashed some sense into me. 

"No way! I just watched all these videos without the internet?!"

I stored all my pictures and recordings in the 'cloud,' so when I looked at the signal strength bars, I realized I had a good internet reception. As I wrangled through my settings, I puzzled over how I gained access. 

Hades-Wi-Fi

"I didn't know the internet was a thing in this forsaken world. I wonder if I can find a place where I can charge my phone?!"