Chapter 74 Blue

• ELARA
• I could not believe the ocean in Santorini was real. The water was the deepest, brightest blue I had ever seen in my life. It looked like someone had taken the most beautiful paint in the world and poured it across the sea. When we first arrived and I stepped out onto the terrace of our villa I just stood there staring at it for a long time. The white buildings on the cliffs looked like they were made of chalk and they stood out so clearly against that perfect blue water. The wind was warm and gentle and carried the smell of salt and flowers. Mateo came up behind me and wrapped his arms around my waist. I leaned back against him but I could not take my eyes off the ocean.
• “Is this really real?” I asked softly. “It looks like a painting. Like something that should not exist in our world.”