She quickly washed up, combed her gorgeous hair, dressed warmly, and went down to the kitchen to drink a double shot of strong coffee. Warren and Glenn were just finishing breakfast.
“Good morning, Megan,” the couple said in unison.
“Good morning,” she said with a smile and reached for the coffee.
“Aren't you going to have breakfast?” Glenn asked in surprise.
“No, I don't want to. I'll just have some cookies,” murmured the sleep-deprived girl.
“Are you feeling okay?” Glenn asked worriedly.
“Yes, I'm fine. Just didn't sleep much. Insomnia. It happens sometimes.”
“If you want, we can stop by a pharmacy today and get you some calming drops; they'll help with the insomnia.”
“Thanks, Glenn, I think that's a good idea. We can stop by on the way back.”
“Well, are you ready? If so, let's go,” Warren said cheerfully, getting up from the table.
“Yes, we can head out,” Megan replied.
Sitting in Warren's cozy car, she again immersed herself in thoughts about Derek.
Arriving at the port, they saw Duncan and Craig there.
“Hi, Megan,” Craig greeted her joyously.
“Craig, Duncan, it’s nice to see you both!” she said.
“The weather is wonderful today, so the trip should be fantastic,” Craig observed.
Leaving their cars in the parking lot, the group chatted and headed towards the dock, where a boat was prepared. Fifteen minutes later, everyone was aboard the vessel heading to Kirkwall, located on the Orkney Islands.
“Ladies and gentlemen, welcome aboard!” Craig announced playfully, mimicking a sea captain, wanting to catch Megan's attention. Spreading a blanket in his hands, he continued, “If you get cold during the journey, you can always cover yourselves with the blankets under your seats,” with these words, he carefully covered the girl's shoulders.
“Thank you, captain, you're very kind!” she thanked him with a smile.
The day was clear and sunny. The sky was cloudless. But Megan knew that despite the good weather, it would definitely be cold on the way due to the headwind.
“How long will it take us to get there?” she asked.
“About an hour,” Duncan replied.
The company was made up of interesting conversationalists, and time flew by unnoticed.
From Kirkwall, they began their exploration of the island. Megan couldn't get enough of the beauty that unfolded before her eyes. Magnificent cliffs of various shapes and heights extended deep into the sea. The delightful sandy beaches invited peace and solitude. She couldn't have imagined such a variety of landscapes in this area. Moving from one place to another, they eventually arrived at the famous Ring of Brodgar. This ring consisted of 27 megalithic stones and had been here for several thousand years. It was unknown who built it and for what purpose – whether it was the Celts or those before them, there were no answers to these questions.
“Originally, the ring had about 60 stones, the rest hadn’t survived to our time,” Warren began. “Legends say that for many centuries, sacrifices were made on an altar situated in the center of the megalithic circle to appease various gods. Locals say that at first, virgins and children were offered as sacrifices, and in later times – animals. Nowadays, this place is just a tourist attraction, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.”
“Such gigantic stones,” Megan exclaimed in admiration.
“And how many terrifying stories they hold in their memory,” Duncan said. “I really like this place; it's definitely filled with mystique.”
