Diary of a Mermaid

"Hurted"

We spend the rest of the day unpacking. By eight o'clock, we've settled in and are watching a movie in the basement. When the movie finishes at half past nine, I notice Nemmy's asleep beside me, so I pick her up and carry her to my room. I change her into her nightgown and tuck her into bed. As I turn around to leave, I see Angel standing in the doorway. "I don't wanna sleep by myself, Topee."

I smile. "Wanna sleep with me?" She nods and runs into her room, throws on her nightgown, runs back in, and hurls herself onto my bed.

I shut the door, throw on my nightie, and crawl into bed. After reading for a bit, I glance at the photo on my nightstand, kiss the girls' heads, and fall asleep with my fist around the hourglass.

I'm woken up who knows how many hours later by someone tapping me. I open one eye and see Nemmy looking over me. I slowly sit up against the headboard and glance at my watch on the nightstand. 2:47. "What's wrong, Nemmy?" I whisper groggily, rubbing my eyes.

"I can't sleep." She says with a hiccup.

I open my eyes fully to see that she's crying. "Nemmy! Come here," I pull her into my arms and carry her to her room and close the door behind I site down on on the bottom bunk with her on my lap.

"Now, tell me what's wrong." I say.

"I wanna go home!" she cries, tears now coming at full force.

I wrap my arms around her and hug her tightly. "So do I, Baby. But we can't. It's not safe. We could get hurt."

"Will Mommy and Daddy get hurted? I don't want them to! I don't want them to!" She completely breaks down in my arms. Just wailing.

Jaclyn comes into the room in a robe. "What's wrong?" she asks, joining us on the bed.

"I wanna go hooome!" Nemmy sobs, digging her fingernails into my back.

"Oh, Honey. It's okay." Jaclyn says, soothingly rubbing Nemmy's arm.

"What's going on?" Angel asks, walking in.

Nemmy bolts from the bed and right into Angels arms, crying more. She's hysterical. I'm afraid she'll throw up.

"Do you wanna call home?" Jaclyn offers. Nemmy lifts her head of Angels chest and nods toward Jaclyn who stands up and extends her hand.

"But it's the middle of the night." I counter.

"Doesn't hurt to try," Jaclyn replies. I shrug and we all go huddle around the phone.

I dial.

No one answers.

Nemmy throws up.