Memories of a Life That Never Happened

Chapter 32 - Sea Stars and Mermaids

Astonishing was not a strong enough word to describe how the ocean looked that night. As Theo and Mica waded through the cold, fluffy sand, he realized they were at the eastern part of the beach. There, the water was lake-like quiet and, for all he could tell, some of the stars had fallen into the sea.

Theo tilted his head up to the sky, wondering if what he was seeing was just a reflection. It was not. Near the shore, tiny blue dots glowed underwater.

"Look at this!" Mica told him as they stepped closer.

"It's the prettiest thing I've ever seen," he said, stupefied. Theo flickered his eyes to Mica, but hers remained ahead. "Had you ever seen anything like this?"

She nodded. "Twice, but never this strong."

"What is this?"

"Remember the fireflies in the woods?" Her open hands gestured to the aquatic constellation. "Consider these their marine cousins."

Theo frowned. "Sea insects?"

She laughed at his silly assumption. "No. Itty-bitty plants or, how my dad used to call them, fish food."

Theo took a step closer, examined the water before turning to Mica. "Is it safe?"

Smiling, she stepped on the heels of her flats to slip them off and dipped her feet into the water.

Around her ankles, the luminescence brightened.

"Wow! That's seriously cool!" Theo yanked his sneakers off clumsily and joined her.

The euphoria in his face made Mica think of Julian on the day he first bathed in the sea. Like her baby brother, he laughed and skipped in the water. And when Mica thought he was done, he played some more.

It pleased her to know there were things-her things, simple as they were-that were new to Theo. That she could show him stuff and share it with him. Mica wondered how much this city boy new about the simple life and if it would please him.

Panting and grinning, Theo reached out a hand.

"Would you allow me this dance?"

Coyly, Mica shoved back her hair. "Dance?" She let out an amused scoff. "There's no music playing."

"Your wish is my command," Theo said, moving closer. He kept his eyes fixed on hers, hooked an arm around her waist while his free hand linked with hers. How could she refuse the boy who made her feel like a princess about to waltz over the galaxy?

Slowly, he started to move and so did Mica. To her amusement, he kept his promise and started whistling a tune. She recognized it as the beginning of a song she used to hear on the radio. It was a foreign song, which she could not sing. Thankfully, she did not have to.

Being there was fun and uncomplicated. Below them, the water shone brighter as it swirled. This was the best first day of the year Mica had ever experienced. And the most romantic too.

"So..." Theo stretched back his neck to meet her eyes, "Your parents come here every year?"

"Not really."

He said nothing, waiting for her to elaborate.

"Well, we did. A long time ago. My dad left us when I was five. The memories upset my Mom, so now we go to the beach near La Bodeguita instead."

Theo brought his head parallel to hers again, so Mica would not catch the self-reproach in his face. "I didn't know. I'm sorry."

"That's ok," she told him mildly. "It's been a long time."

When Theo touched a cheek to hers, it felt warm. And soft. And perfect.

"So Escobar is your stepdad?" All Theo wanted was to nuzzle into her neck, but he decided against it and resigned to smelling her hair.

"He is. Mom used to work at the restaurant when he arrived in town. He went there every day for breakfast. After a while, for lunch too, and then dinner. In the end, he was spending so much time with us that I don't really remember him moving in. It just happened."

When Theo's hand slid up her back, Mica bit a smile threatening to grow on her lips.

"He's a great guy, my stepdad. Helps everyone around. It's impossible not to like him."

"Well, my dad seems to agree, and that's unusual. He had never invited one of his employees for the party. Much less enjoy it with him."

"I'm really thankful to your dad. I can't tell you how happy I am that I got to do this."

"So am I," Theo smiled. Gently, he released her hand so that both his arms could hold her. With Mica in his arms, Theo felt as though he could stay there forever. Up to his knee in tepid, stellar water. The sea stars on his feet were of a different sort, infinitely more impressive.

Mica lingered there for a moment, and then eased her body back.

"So..." green eyes stared into blue ones. "Ready to jump?"

"Whenever you are."

Theo could not help smiling dumbly when he noticed Mica did not let go of his hand. Together, they headed toward the stretch of ocean where the waves were rolling and stepped forward, into the crashing waves. Deeper and deeper they jumped, until water was at their waist. Their clothes were soaked and clinging to their bodies, their faces damp from the sea spray.

The last wave hit Theo stronger than he had anticipated. It knocked him off balance and made him fall back.

Time passed and Mica did not see his head surface over the froth, so she dived. At the same time as his arm flailed above water, Mica emerged next to him, effortlessly as a mermaid.

Because he supposed it would be disgusting to spit out the water in his mouth, Theo swallowed it.

"I thought-." Theo coughed vigorously. "I was going to die."

"That's all right, we're in shallow waters," she soothed him, patting a firm hand on his back. "You got me worried there for a second."

"I tried to get up, but it was so slippery." Theo pressed a thumb and a finger at his eyes. "And I couldn't open my eyes, I was afraid I'd lose my contact lenses."

"That's a silly thing to worry about if you're afraid you'll drown."

He gaped at her. "You're totally right! What was I thinking?"

"You weren't. You panicked."

Mica helped Theo out of the water and onto the reliable sand. They sat on the sand, curiously close to the spot they both had been to the previous day.

While he took a moment to recollect himself, she thought of her own life and the fear she felt as the seer foretold her death. Future, she knew, was out of her control. Her present, on the other hand, was not. If tomorrow was a guess, today Mica was sure of one thing. She would rather be herself and spend whatever time she had left living life fully than give up now and live a long, near-life.