We end up staying in a hotel in Kapalua Bay. The minister suggested this part of the island, and we were lucky enough to find a hotel without an advance booking. Jake takes care of the check-in while I stare at the ocean from the hotel’s lobby. Its waves seem to pull at me, the wind to whisper in my ears as if this moment was somehow a significant one.

We follow a clerk who shows us to our room, they gave us the honeymoon suite. While the clerk shows Jake the perks of the room to earn his tip, I feel the pull of the ocean again. I spring the French doors open and walk outside on the patio. A gentle ocean breeze caresses my skin. I look up at the stars and they seem to wink back at me as if they know something I don’t; as if my destiny is written in their constellations. My husband comes up behind me and wraps his arms around my waist.

“Beautiful aren’t they?” he asks, looking up with me.

“You think we were destined to be together?”

“I don’t know if it was destiny, fate, sheer luck or whatever. I’m just glad we found each other once and then again.”

“It was destiny. I believe that if things had gone any other way, we’d still be here, under these same stars, married, happy.”

Feeling as one with the universe, I kiss Jake. He lifts me up, never breaking the kiss, and walks me back into the room, wedding night style. I rest my head on the nook between Jake’s shoulders and neck, breathing in his scent. My heart’s pulsing with life—a new life I’m going to live with Jake by my side.

♥♦♥♦♥♦♥

Two weeks later, the last day of our honeymoon, Jake wakes me by nuzzling my neck.

“How’s my beautiful bride?”

I want to say, “Wonderful,” or “Crazily happy,” but the truth is I’m feeling groggy at best.

“I’m sleepy. Do we have to start packing already?”

“What’s wrong?” Jake’s immediately up and alert. He turns on the lights and checks my temperature, placing the back of his hand on my forehead. “You’re pale.”

“Nothing’s wrong. I’m just a bit queasy. Maybe the Lao-Lao from last night was a bit heavy.”

“Are you sure?”

I’m about to say yes when I gag. And before I know it, I’m running for the toilet.

Jake’s at my side in a matter of seconds and he holds my hair back as I puke. Not the most romantic ending to our blissful honeymoon, but a good insight into that ‘in sickness and health’ promise.

When there’s nothing left in my stomach, I wash my mouth in the sink and sit on the closed toilet to recover.

Jake hands me a damp towel to place on my forehead. “Better?” he asks.