Setting: Cassadine Island

(Setting: The dining room where Laura has just come down to have breakfast)

To Laura, the best and only times she felt she had a friend was at breakfast. The cook, an apprenticing cook, she was a sweet young girl that reminded Laura of herself when she was younger. But the one thing Laura liked most about her was that she wasn't afraid of Stavros nor Helena on those rare occasions when she came to visit and to see if Laura was taking proper care of her "favorite son". The young girl never backed down and Laura felt a special kinship with her, but mysteriously she could not find her this morning. Laura went into the kitchen to look for her but all she found was an older woman cooking breakfast.

"Excuse me, where is.."

"Mrs. Cassadine, I am the new cook, I'm Mrs. Landsbury"

"Its nice to meet you, but please call me Laura." Laura hated being reminded of her marital status this early in the morning.

"Mrs. Landsbury, what happened to the old cook??"

"All Mr. Cassadine told me was that she was no longer employed here" This puzzled Laura beyond belief, where had her one friend gone and why hadn't she told her what had happened. Laura was looking out of the window thinking about what could have happened when she noticed a boat being prepped for a voyage. Suddenly, Laura, in her robe ran outside to stop the boat and the occupant she saw on it. She got there just before the cook was going to leave.

"Wait, please, tell me..."

"I have to go Laura, its not safe for me here, your husband is looking for me and you know what will happen if he finds me, his brother has arranged to occupy your husband till my escape. Please, let me go in peace"

Stefan! Laura envisioned his eyes looking into hers and remembered the goodness she saw deep within them. "Go.. I couldn't live with myself if Stavros incurred his wrath for whatever on you because of me, but where will you go"

"Home, to Australia."

"I wish you well."

"Laura I will do whatever I can to get help to you and get you away from here, I must go."

And with that, the cook pushed off her boat and sailed into the fog. At that moment, Laura felt a glimmer of hope but knew the girl needed enough luck on her side to make it to Australia. At that moment, goodbye wasn't was Laura could say, all she could say was her name very quietly to herself, "Miranda."

As she watched her friend disappear she knew she had to find out why she had to leave and she knew the only person who wouldn't lie to her was the one she had met one day prior.

With that, Laura left the pier in search for answers from the only one left on this godforsaken island she could trust..Stefan.

© 1997