Vietnam 2

Stellar stood under the shelter of a towering tree. She fisted her skirt, while her other hand bunched her hair when a wind blew past, rustling the leaves. 

Releasing a breath she didn't know she was holding in the entire time, she felt her knees turn into jelly when Holden flashed her a smile that reached the corners of his eyes, reassuring her that everything would be alright.

"The guy I spoke with said he can give us a lift to Sapa, but we have to wait a bit for him to close his store," Holden relayed the news.

Stellar couldn't help but feel as if she was floating, elated that after a series of unfortunate events, they were finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

It didn't take long for the man in his forties to approach the young couple with a smile on his face. If Stellar could guess his age, she thought he could be older but the absence of fine lines was a result of how his smile came like a second skin to him.