Diary of a Mermaid

All squished together

An hour later, Angel and Nemmy are sitting in my room watching me pack my carry on. The one I just unpacked this morning.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see a photograph halfway under my dresser. I stoop and pick it up. It's a photograph of me, Angel, Nemmy, Finn and Ray. We're all squished together and only our faces are visible. It was beautiful. Now the glass is shattered. The frame is cracked. It's a mess. I feel a need to have this picture with me. I quickly swim to the basement and find a spare frame. I sit down on the floor and carefully transfer frames. Then I go back to my room and tuck the photograph into my suitcase.

"Topaz?" Mom says from the doorway. I swim outside and she closes the door behind me. She takes a small box out of her pocket and hands it to me. I open it and see a small gold hourglass with white sand. "I just had it made today. The sand is from our garden. It's to remind you that time will pass and soon you'll all be home again."

I take the hourglass out of the box and slip the long chain over my head. "Thank you,"

"Now," Mom states. "I'm trusting you to look after the girls. Promise me you will."

I nod. "Good," she says. "Now get back in there. Finish packing."

I comply and go back in to find my clothes strewn everywhere. I must look mad, because Angel and Nemmy both point to each other and say, "She did it."