We sit on the balcony until late into the night. After a while, I sneak back into the room and get my headphones. When I come out again, Anne has disappeared. I can't really recognise much in the dark and I call her name quietly. 

"Anne?" Nothing. 

I look down from the balcony onto the path, but I don't see her there either. Then I take out my mobile phone to call her and realise that I don't have her number. So stupid Lily. 

Suddenly a light blinds me. I try to recognise where it's coming from, but then it's gone again. I lean over the balcony railing again and there it is again. The light appears again and again and then disappears again. Like a lighthouse. But much smaller. What is that? 

I grab my jacket from the room and then walk down the stairs towards the beach. Always in the direction of the light. In the dark, I suddenly see a figure near the water. As I walk closer and I recognise who is standing there.

 "Anne?" I call out to her. 

She holds a torch in her hand and turns round in circles with it. 

"What are you doing? Are you crazy? It's the middle of the night." I shout to her as I quickly walk towards her.

Anne says nothing, just smiles at me, opens her arms and continues to turn in circles.

"You're crazy." I say to her and take another step towards her and before I realise it, she takes a step forward and takes me in her arms, spinning me with her. 

I wrap my arms around her and let her turn me with her.

"I'll be your lighthouse Lily," Anne whispers in my ear, "I'll be there when you need me and also when you don't need me. Getting to know you here in Giglio was the best part of the whole trip and I hope that we can continue to be friends at school when we get back. If that's what you want?"

 Anne's words hit home, but I need a moment to process them. Anne's hug warms me and makes me forget everything again. 

"Where have you been for the last three years?" I ask her and she hugs me even tighter in response. 

"I hope we can continue to be friends at school and outside of school." I reply to her previous question. "Thank you for wanting to be my lighthouse!" 

Anne slowly stops spinning and slowly releases herself from the hug. 

"Well, that's settled then," she says and turns to face the sea, "are you coming with me?"

And before I can answer, she is already walking towards the water. She takes off her flip-flops and starts walking into the water. Her shorts are soon wet and her yellow T-shirt is already soaking in the water too. 

"Come on Lily. Jump over your shadow" she calls to me and dives under.

"No!" I shout to her as she disappears.

I quickly take off my sandals and head for the water. "Ah, cold, cold, cold..." I take a few steps back again. 

Anne is already far out and continues swimming. Soon I won't be able to see her in the dark. 

Come on Lily, I hear myself and my grandfather say at the same time in my head. So I pluck up all my courage and get in quickly. 

Today, too, I quickly get used to the cold water and start swimming. Take a deep breath and keep going, I tell myself. Anne is not so far away and is now swimming in place. 

"Go, Lily!" she calls to me happily as I get closer. 

"You're so crazy!" I call out to her and try to splash her. She realises my intention and dives under. But when she reappears further ahead, I'm prepared and hit her with full force. I can't help but laugh and I'm distracted for a moment, so I don't notice Anne swimming behind me and immerse me under water.

"Unfair play." I say as I come back up.

I'm starting to feel the cold of the water again and we're already quite a way out.

"I think we'd better get back to the beach slowly. The cold will make us sick." I say and realise that my lips are starting to tremble. 

"You're right, let's swim back." Anne replies when she notices my trembling lips.

We arrive back at our flat with our clothes soaking wet. Luckily, our beach towels are still hanging outside on the balcony, so we can dry off enough to avoid getting the whole flat wet. Anne lets me into the bathroom first. Soaked and cold, I quickly change my clothes and put on my pyjamas. In the mirror I see a freezing, tired but happy Lily looking back at me. I briefly try to dry my wet curls, but then quickly give up when I realise it's no use.

 When I open the door, Anne is standing there holding out her hand to me. 

"Here are your headphones and your mobile phone. You must have left them on the balcony earlier."

"Thank you." A new message flashes up on my mobile phone. I quietly walk to the bunk bed and climb up the ladder. When I get to the top, I open the message. It's from my mum. This late?

That can't be good news. I start reading with a queasy feeling.

Dear Lily, I hope you're having a wonderful time in Giglio and enjoying the warmth and the sea. I wanted to let you know that Grandad is having an emergency operation tomorrow. The decision has only just been made. He's doing well so far and we'll talk when you get back. As soon as I know how the operation went, I'll let you know tomorrow. Please try not to worry, but I know you can't, so try to do like your grandfather and trust in life. Sleep well and I love you.

Tears run down my face as I put my mobile phone away.