PART 5: Reclaiming the Future
PART 5: Reclaiming the Future
Quiet hotel rooms welcome newly liberated souls.
Five hours later, the Boeing wide-body aircraft greased onto the runway at Kahului Airport in Maui, sliding smoothly to a halt at the jet bridge under a warm, tropical night sky.
When the cabin doors opened, a gentle, fragrant breeze carrying the scent of salt water and plumeria drifted into the aisle, wrapping around me like a welcoming embrace.
I disembarked among the first wave of passengers, bypassing the crowded tour groups and heading straight toward the private resort shuttle pick-up zone.
My original itinerary had included a massive, multi-bedroom oceanfront villa booked under my name for the entire family—a reservation I had quietly modified during the flight while offline.
When I stepped up to the VIP reception desk at the Four Seasons resort in Wailea, the desk agent beamed with professional polish.
“Welcome to Maui, Ms. Bennett! We’ve been expecting you. Your private oceanfront bungalow is fully prepared.”
“Thank you, Sarah,” I smiled, reading her name tag. “Just a slight change of plans for this trip. The additional three guests won’t be joining me. It’s just going to be a solo reservation.”
The agent didn't miss a beat, her smile remaining entirely professional as she adjusted the ledgering on her terminal.
“Not a problem at all, Ms. Bennett. We’ve updated your account profile. Your private sunset dinner excursion and spa appointments remain fully confirmed for tomorrow morning.”
Ten minutes later, a private golf cart whisked me through the lush, torch-lit pathways of the resort until we stopped in front of a secluded, thatched-roof bungalow nestled right against the edge of the Pacific.
The driver carried my luggage inside, placed it neatly by the entryway, and bowed politely before departing into the warm evening air.
May you like
I walked out onto the private lanai, kicking off my heels and resting my bare feet against the cool wooden decking.
Below me, the dark waves of the ocean crashed rhythmically against the volcanic rock shoreline, sending up a fine mist of spray that sparkled under the brilliant light of a full Hawaiian moon.
