The Sea

XVIII

The girl stands up from her spot. The sheets of the bed crumple from where she moves above. Her mind is still trapped in that cave of dark. Though, the light has spread, the chamber is lit up.

In the middle of the room, a chest is perched. She moves toward it, unlocking the heavy chain. A bright beam blinds her eyes as she opens the lid. On the center is a key, shaped as a heart and colored like the bluish sea. It's made of glass, a fragile treasure that lay on her hands. She holds it close to her heart. Tears fall from her eyes, like a river escaping a dam. The insecurities, the fear, the vulnerability, the darkness and loneliness she's feeling. Her bubble is broken and she can no longer hold it in.

The girl let herself cry as she stands facing the door. The last boss is beyond this wooden wall. She takes a moment before collecting herself. She wipes her tears with the back of her hands and sets her face to neutral.

In the duration of her life, the girl has learned that not everyone is the same. She has lived within a home that encloses her like a shell. Strict rules that consist of things like, "not going too far or not going at all. No boys. No playing until Friday after school." Expectations are like clouds in the sky. Countless times she feels as if she has touched its tips but the moment she hears, "you can do better," everything seems to freeze.

"Nothing is enough."

"I can do better."

These are the voices that always whisper. These are the words set in stone that no amount of comfort will heal its poison. Water pollution that is just too many to clean. It corrupts the waters in the different parts of her system. Ships that had sunk are littering the seafloor; a clear evidence of her deepest, darkest depressions.

The girl knocks first before peeking in. Her eyes devoid of any emotion she's feeling. "Mom, our exams are next week." Then, she turns and leaves swiftly. Currents in the graveyard of shipwrecks are getting stronger than before. Chaos is ensuing as she buries herself in the desk-filled books. "No matter what, she needs to get high scores."

There is no need for potions of healing. Thereis no need for trying to revive a fish that is already dead. Her brain isalready defected. Her thought process is already affected. It's hard to get ridof a habit with just a few words of encouragement. The disappointment in theireyes, she hates seeing it. She can't stand it. For she believes that she failedto be the daughter they ever wanted.