Falling Together

That's the way the Island works

MAISIE

I'm sitting in the passenger seat with my chin in my hand and the window rolled down. The wind feels good on my face after a long flight, even if it is a bit sticky. I look at myself in the side mirror of the orange Jeep and stare. I barely recognize myself nowadays.

I've always had long brown hair, tan skin and full lips. To anyone else I look no different. But looking at my own eyes staring back at me I wonder if the circles under them will ever go away. If the fear behind my blue and gray eyes will ever disappear, or if I'm cursed to live the rest of my life afraid.

"You hungry? We could stop and get some food before we head all the way home?"

I turn to face the man next to me. Recently he's been the only one ok with me staying silent. He never forces me to try and talk about what happened that night like my mother does. Instead he just accepts that it's up to me. It's one of the things I love most about my dad. Even growing up away from him, he's always been there for me when I needed him. I'd like to think my dad does this for me because I'm his adorable baby girl, and although it's true, helping people is just who my dad is. He would help anyone who asked as long as he had a way. But instead of calling him dad they'd call him Loto, which here in samoa means 'heart.' go figure.

His black hair is tied to a bun on the top of his head, he has a long beard, and his arms are covered in Samoan tattoos. He's in a gray muscle shirt and jean shorts. He's used to the humidity here. I am not. I'm in long pants and two shirts because my New York wardrobe is mostly for the cold. Living here will definitely be changing the way I'm used to dressing.

My dad is strong and keeps his build by working on cars. Our family owns a big mechanic shop on the island.. or at least my dad's family does. I don't know if I know them well enough to call them my family anymore. I've only been here on the island a dozen times since I was born. The best thing about the island was my half brother Noah.

His mom was around for a few months when Noah was born but decided she wasn't ready to take care of a kid. She left my dad and Noah when he was only 9 months old. Not long after that my dad met my mom.

Noah is one and a half years older than me and never left the island, but we have always been close through the years. It never mattered that we had different mothers. We were family. Living with my mom it was always us and whatever terrible boyfriend of the month she had. So coming to the island to visit, being able to have a friend like Noah, it always meant the world to me.

"I think I'd rather get home to see Noah." I say back.

"We could swing by the shop and pick him up? He's just about done for the day anyhow. Then we can head over to Minoa's. They have the best food in town." He says smiling at me.

"That sounds good. I'll text him."

"No, let it be a surprise. He'll love it." He says winking at me. I catch the wink and mischievous grin and realize what he really means.

"You didn't tell him I was coming in today did you?" I half laugh. My dad smiles.

"He might still think you're coming down in a few months."

I laugh. That is so dad. He always loved surprises. Even my name was a surprise. I guess he and my mom had made a deal that if she had a boy she would name him and if it was a girl my dad got to choose the name. And well, along came me.

My full name is Masina Angela Collins. Masina in Samoan roughly translates to 'Moon', but for the most part everyone calls me Maisie. My brother's full name is Noah Fetu Collins. His middle name roughly translates to 'stars'. My dad's idea. He would tell anyone who asked that we were the moon and the stars to him. Most people laugh at the corny gesture but not my dad, he loves it and I secretly like it too.