I'll be here forever

chapter 54

I couldn't see anything, the water was so murky, but I started to swim, using the water to push myself along. I felt a little gross with how dirty the water was, but at least I was safe.

I held my breath for as long as I could, and then let it go, fully expecting a lungful of water. Nothing happened. I was breathing normally, in the dirty river. I wasn't wet, either, and I had a feeling I wouldn't get wet unless I wanted to. It seemed pretty fucking cool, honestly. I wondered what other things I could do.

But I stopped thinking about it, before my imagination ran a little too far, to a place I didn't want it to.

I sank to the bottom of the river, feeling the water around me instil my aching limbs with energy. I felt the burns on my hands start to mend. I closed my eyes and sighed. There really was nothing like the feeling of being in the water, even though it was pretty gross water.

I felt the tension slowly melt away, and I didn't feel as scared anymore. I already felt so much better.

Then I listened, but I couldn't feel any fish for many yards. It was strange. Usually, there's so many.

"Son of Poseidon," a voice said, a raspy, sick voice, and I startled, my eyes flying open.

There was a river nymph a couple of feet away from my face. But this wasn't like the ones that Daisy had shown me from her book; this one was old.

I took in the nymph in front of me. She had many wrinkles, her eyes squinted, and her clothes were made of trash. Plastic rings tied themselves into knots in her dingy brown-grey hair that floated in the water.

Her skin might have been a beautiful blue once. Now it was grey, pale, and sickly.

"Hi," I decided on.

She smiled, a toothy, rotten grin. I found myself feeling awful for her. I wanted to do something to help her, but I didn't know what.

"It is nice to meet you after all this time. I have heard much," she said enthusiastically.

"You... have?"

"Oh, yes."

"Are- are you alone here?"

"I am. My sisters... they died long ago."

I paused.

"I'm... so sorry. What happened?"

"Humans. Our river... they threw in trash, dirt, all of it. At first it was interesting. It was treasure, you know? But soon you couldn't see a few feet in front of you, and my sisters, they couldn't handle it. They passed on."

"Can- can you handle it?"

"Oh, no, but it's nice of you to be concerned. No, my time will come soon enough, and I will join my sisters," she told me, like she'd already accepted it.

"Then come with me. I can bring you to a better water source," I blurted out.

"I cannot leave my river. I am bound here by life force. But thank you, son of Poseidon. That is a very kind offer," she smiled at me.

"Well- well can I do anything? Can I help you?" I asked. I couldn't just leave this river nymph to die in these polluted waters that she once called home.

"I'm afraid there is nothing. But seeing you is like a breeze of fresh water again- I can almost remember how it feels," she said wistfully.

"I'm sorry," I whispered.

I didn't want to leave this nymph alone, with nothing, so I grabbed her hand. To try and comfort her. And if I'm being honest, to comfort myself. I wondered how many other river nymphs suffered this way, too? All alone, bound to a polluted river, where they're bound to stay until they melt away?

The result was instant. Her hair unknotted itself, and the plastic floated away. Her eyes opened fully, beautiful, almond shaped black eyes. Her skin turned young, and blue, and vibrant again, her clothes no longer made of trash but of river kelp and white chiffon that flowed in the water.

I let go of her hand, and she stared at herself in shock and joy.

"How did you- how did you do that?" she said, on the verge of tears. Her voice was no longer old and raspy, but young, and musical.

"I- I don't know," I told her. And I didn't. All I did was touch her.

"Thank you, thank you, thank you!" she cried, throwing her arms around me, giving me a hug. I patted her back awkwardly.

"What did I do?" I asked her when she pulled back, mystified.

"I- I am no longer bound to this river and I-" she stopped, because she was too choked up. I didn't know what I'd done, but I was glad anyways. She looked much happier.

"A thousand thank-you's cannot express my gratitude," she whispered.

"Uh, no, it's okay. I'm glad I could help."

"If you ever need anything, anything at all, son of Poseidon, call for me by name- Dione. I will come. Thank you," she said tearfully, and then she melted away, leaving me relieved, alone, tired, and confused at the bottom of a murky river.