Page 36 of The Love Position

He nodded, then took her glass to the sink and turned on the tap. By the time he’d finished washing it, she’d gone.

To: All students

From: Isaac Hayward

Subject: Cancellation of classes

Dear all,

I apologise, but I’m cancelling my classes for the rest of the summer and leaving for India earlier than planned.

If you’ve bought a pass, it will be extended so you can use it when I’m back in September.

Don’t forget I’ve got videos available on my website so you can continue your home practice.

Have a great summer,

Isaac

P.S. - I will not be checking my email when I’m away.

7

Nose pressed against the glass, Sophia drank in the view as the aeroplane descended.

Rocky green islands, fringed with white sand, rose from sapphire deep waters, and the surface of the sea sparkled in the sunshine. Despite the exhaustion from the journey, excitement flickered in her tummy. She might have been running away from her problems, but where better to run to than paradise?

And the fact it took her four thousand miles away from Marcus? Even better.

The small plane banked, beginning the final descent to Beef Island and Sophia checked the seat pocket in front of her for the umpteenth time.

Heart beating faster, she focused on her breathing. Her family may have been worried about her abrupt decision to spend the summer at an ashram, but she hoped the experience would help with her anxiety and breathing, as well as provide respite from the most stressful year of her life.

Gripping the armrests as the wheels touched down with a judder, she pursed her lips and let out a long breath. She’d never liked flying, and this journey had involved three aeroplanes and had taken nearly twenty-four hours. Sophia was shattered and her stomach was growling at her for food.

‘Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the British Virgin Islands. The temperature may be thirty-one degrees, but the drinks are ice cold…’

Sophia smiled. She wasn’t big into booze, but right now she wanted a pitcher of fruit punch and a kip on a sunbed in the shade of a palm tree. She doubted there would be alcohol at the ashram, but the pictures online had shown multiple pristine beaches and she couldn’t wait to do a bit of yoga and a lot of relaxing.

Stepping off the plane, she paused for a moment, squinting in the bright sunlight as the heat enveloped her. England may have been enjoying an uncharacteristically hot summer, but this was something else. Securing her bag over her shoulder, she gripped the handrail of the stairs and descended to the tarmac, her free hand flapping the top of her t-shirt to cool down.

Inside the airport, waiting for her suitcase, Sophia checked the information she’d printed out about getting to the ashram. There was a ferry dock a short walk from the terminal, and the ashram had its own dedicated boat that ran six times per day.

Making her way there, she found the right dock extending out into the bay and a wooden sign halfway down that read ‘Tranquillity Island Ashram’.

There was a small bench, but she didn’t sit, peering instead at the water. It wasn’t the clear blue she’d seen from the plane. The surface was covered with brown seaweed that choked the entire area, and the smell of rotting eggs filled the air.

‘It’s sargassum,’ an American voice said behind her.

Sophia whipped around to see a woman who looked to be in her twenties with a smiling freckled face, wavy auburn hair, and a large duffel bag slung over her shoulder.

‘It’s a real problem this time of year,’ the woman continued. She dropped her bag and held out a hand. ‘I’m Jessica. You going to the ashram?’

Sophia took it. ‘For a month. I’m Sophia.’

‘Teacher Training Course?’

‘Yes, although more for the experience than anything else. You?’

---