Sarah looks at her phone for the hundredth time. No news from Nicole, who was supposed to meet her ten minutes ago. The smell of fresh coffee and pastries awakens her stomach, triggering a rumble. I could probably eat something while waiting, she thinks and steps into the cafe. The wooden floors, the velvet curtains, and the slow jazz create a cozy ambiance. While she patiently waits in line, debating over having a croissant or a cinnamon roll, a man sketching at one of the t

I feel very sorry to say, but I hate the north of France. I know that place very well; this is where I saw my first daylight, where I took my first steps. I like to think that gives me the right to say so. I was born on a snowy day, but Portuguese blood was flowing in my veins. There was already a conflict of nature. Our relationship was doomed from the start, and it never felt right. From my toes that froze during wintertime, to my spirit that died with every raindrop, my bo

Another siren blast, slashing the silence of the night. It's been the sixth one, and I don't think I will sleep tonight. The tsunami wave coming from Japan's earthquake is scheduled to reach Hawaii's islands around 3:40 a.m. Every thirty minutes, the sirens remind us that the threat is real. Maybe living so close to the ocean was not such a good idea after all. Walking back from the beach after sunset time, we had no idea what was coming. Laughter and giggles were filling the

Cocooned between the hull and a lee cloth, my eyes are growing heavy as I watch the ocean. Bang! The boom is trying another escape as a gust gets trapped in the mainsail. The swish of the wake buzzes in my ears. The cacophony of smacks and thumps carried by the rolling swell brings my body to exhaustion, altering my thoughts. Like on a kaleidoscope, pictures are switching every few seconds on that tiny portlight except it’s always the same two pictures: a splash of water and

The water was flowing down the mountain like a thousand galloping horses, grabbing rocks, dirt, and branches in its wake. What had started as a distant tumble became a rumble in a glimpse of time. The sky has been falling down for the past hour, pouring its heart out. Soon the stream would enter the ocean. With open arms, the Pacific would embrace the wild water to become one again. Alice was sitting on the rooftop of her house, raindrops pearling down her face, her bare arms

After my first steps outside the plane, I take a deep breath. I am holding my purse in one hand, my tiny daughter’s hand in the other. A new chapter of my life begins. The air is warm and humid. A breeze flows freely inside the airport, wrapping us with a warm embrace. Its smell carries the ocean, the flowers, the fruits. “Welcome to Maui” says the sign at the top of the escalator. As we go towards the baggage claim, I notice a lot of smiles and lightness in people’s demeanor