Page 28 of Sweet Poison

I take one last look in the mirror, and make sure I look okay. “You got this, Willow.” I tell myself before I head out of the suite, ready to have a nice night close to the beach.

There’snothing more beautiful than watching the sunset at the beach. The soft light has settled over the open-air restaurant, casting a warm glow from the twinkling Christmas decorations strung across the palm trees and the lights lining the beachfront. My colleagues and I are seated at a table draped with a festive red-and-white cloth, our chatter mingling with the gentle crash of waves against the shore.

Taking my phone out I take a picture of the sunset and post it on my social media with the caption with the wave, sunset and heart eyes emojis. I don’t post a lot on social media but here and there I do so I can update the rest of my cousins. The first comment is of my cousin Roman who leaves a string of red hearts. Roman is the son of my uncle Lucan who is my Dad’s only sibling. Uncle Lucan married Aunt Andrea and they have three kids together. Roman, Allegra and Artemis. My cousins are all famous and very successful not only because they’re heirs of their parents’ empires but because the three of them are hardworking and creative. They took their parents’ success as fashion and artistic icons and made it their own.

As I scroll through my cousin’s comments on my post, Bernie, Cleo, Maya, and Ethan talk about our schedule for tomorrow. We’re all excited about exploring the AmazonRainforest, hoping to find the rare fungi that are teetering on the brink of extinction and will contribute to our research. We’ve been discussing it nonstop since we sat down at the table. The excitement of discovering more species has us animated, and the conversation flows easily.

“I can’t wait to explore the Amazon. This is a once in a lifetime experience and I can’t believe I get to do that tomorrow.Mamá estaría tan orgullosa.” Maya says at the same time she signs, her eyes sparkling bright.

“I always dreamed of visiting the Amazon forest.”I move my hands animatedly just as excited as all of them.

It’s true.

When I was little my Mom gifted me a book that showed the flora around the world and there was a whole chapter about the Amazon. I loved reading about it and I hoped one day I could explore it and now I’m here.

Dreams come true when you work hard and believe. Mom always says that and she’s not wrong.

Our conversation is briefly interrupted by a young waiter who approaches us, his lighted Christmas hat perched crookedly atop his head. His smile is as bright as the twinkling lights of his hat and all around us, and he exudes a contagious energy that makes me smile. The name on his tag reads Eugenio.

“Hello. Are you all ready to order?” He asks using sign language.

That won’t ever stop surprising me.

Bernie, the most outgoing of the group and the one always up for new experiences, looks up at Ernesto. “Oh, yes. What do you recommend? We’re new to all things Brazil!” he says, leaning forward with genuine curiosity.

Ernesto’s brown eyes light up, and he launches into an enthusiastic explanation of the restaurant’s menu. “Welcome. Welcome! If you’re looking for something truly Brazilian, I’dsuggest trying themoqueca. It’s a fantastic seafood stew with coconut milk and spices—absolutely delicious. And thefeijoadais a must-try if you’re in the mood for something satisfying. It’s a black bean stew with pork. Both are particularly popular with our guests. And if you’re looking for something sweet to end the meal, you can’t go wrong with a classic Brazilian dessert likebrigadeiros—chocolate truffles rolled in sprinkles.”

Cleo raises an eyebrow, clearly intrigued. “Brigadeirossound tasty. We’ll definitely have to try those, guys.” We all nod in agreement.

As Ernesto takes our orders, I catch myself smiling, feeling happy and at ease despite the odd mix of nostalgia and melancholy I felt earlier while thinking of Madden Hunt. It feels nice to be surrounded by my colleagues as we enjoy a nice dinner with a beautiful view and a festive atmosphere that adds a touch of magic to the evening.

There’s just something about this country that feels so magical— magical and surreal.

As Ernesto finishes jotting down our orders, the distant sound of cheerful music catches our attention. It’s a fun melody of Christmas songs that fills the air with an infectious cheer and mingles with the salty breeze. I glance around looking for where the music is coming from and notice a small stage set up nearby, where a group of performers in festive red and white costumes is entertaining a crowd of kids with lively holiday tunes and games.

The sight is as captivating as it is heartwarming. The talented performers are dancing and singing with such energy and joy that it’s impossible not to be drawn in. The kids around the stage are clapping and jumping around with the music, their sweet faces lit up with the sport of the holiday.

Bernie nudges me with a grin.

Ernesto gives us a knowing smile. “The resort puts on a Christmas show every night and it is one of our highlights. Asyou can tell it is a great way for everyone to get into the holiday spirit and experience some local culture. You should see it. I’m sure you’ll love it.”

“We will. Thank you.” Ethan says politely before taking a sip of wine.

I watch the show from a distance enjoying how as the music continues, the performers transition into a medley of classic carols, their voices blending harmoniously with the lively rhythms of a Brazilian beat. The sound is warm and festive to the evening atmosphere. I watch as the crowd’s reactions range from delighted children to smiling couples. I’m glad I decided to join my team tonight. It’s just too bad that Uncle Cianne opted to not come. He said he was tired but I know that's a lie. My uncle is never tired. What he is though is a huge sneak. He’s probably hiding in the bushes right now making sure I’m safe from a distance.

While we wait for our food to arrive, I pull out my phone and find the perfect spot with the festive lights shimmering in the background and take a quick selfie. Choosing the one I like best, I tap on my family group chat, which includes my Mom, Dad, all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I send the selfie with a message.

Me: “Hey everyone! Wish you all could be here with me. The resort is like the north pole but a tropical version and the food is delicious! Missing you all soooo much. ”

The replies come instantly.

Mommy: Oh, baby. It looks like you’re having a great time!

Daddy: Look at my beautiful girl.

Aunty Ari: You look gorgeous, Little Stelina.

Uncle Bastian: Maybe we should all take a trip there next year?

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