Fallen Petals

Chapter three

Seeing her interact with the small crab made him think of when she was little. If he closed his eyes for even a minute he could recall it. Rosie had just had 2nd birthday and she was running along the white sand. There was a hermit crab nearby and she picked it up.
"Pet." The toddler declared with a smile.
"Rosie no honey put the crab down," Lucas said. He ran off to try and take the animal from her before she got pinched. However whenever he gently took an animal from her. She would instantly pick another one and declare it her pet. No sea animal scared her as she held a sea snake in her two-year-old hands. This nearly gave him a heart attack and he scolded her. The toddler of course cried but he managed to calm her when he let her keep the hermit crab. Rosie named the crab Hazel because of the H on its shell and made a tank in her room for it. She kept the hermit crab as a pet for about a year and a half before one day the crab seemed sick. Rosie didn't understand why her pet wouldn't eat or wake up so Lucas decided to return Hazel to the ocean. It was heart-wrenching to see her look at the empty tank with sadness, so he did everything he could to cheer her up. 

The flashback ended as some water splashed on his face. He smiled at Rosie's actions and looked at her with pride. Lucas was amazed at Rosie's courage, as she kept helping whatever animal she saw nearby in need. He was also shocked to see that no animal ever caused her harm. Rosie ran to him she grabbed his hand and pointed to a full-grown dolphin stuck in a net.
"Daddy look!" She called out.
"What is it, Rosie?" He asked. Before he could say more she took off running in the direction of the net. Lucas ran after her and tripped a few times due to his bad leg. He had no idea how she was fast or maybe he was just older than he thought.

"You poor thing, I'll get you out," Rosie said as she placed her hand on the dolphin's forehead. It struggled inside the net and needed water fast, or it would dry out.
"Rosie slow down honey, I can't keep up with you," Lucas said as he panted. When he finally caught up with her, she hugged him to apologize.
"I'm sorry Daddy, but I had to help the dolphin." She responded. Lucas looked at the animal trapped inside the net, and while he feared for his daughter's safety. He knew better than to turn down a cry for help, so he pulled out his pocket knife to cut the net.
"Let's rescue her then." He said.

"Oh yes Daddy, thank you for helping my new friend!" Rosie exclaimed. Lucas smiled at her as he cut into the ropes, the dolphin got scared and shook him off. This made the process difficult but Lucas never lost his footing and Rosie kept the frightened animal calm. The second she began her song, the dolphin's fear seemed to vanish.
"Hear my voice beneath the sea, and sleep so peacefully, listen to my song, and let your worries cease. Trust me and keep your eyes on me, the wind will pass so easily. Feel the waves through your hair and turn your gaze towards the open sea. Hear my voice beneath the sea and let me carry you home." She sang.

The dolphin chirped and whistled to thank her once the net was cut. Rosie laughed and hugged her new friend before she swam away. It seemed to know who Lucas was when he also tried to comfort her. As she pulled on his sleeve in an attempt to get him to play with her.
"Wow now take it easy." Lucas said.
He smiled as he felt that there was a time when he was like this. A young kid trying to save a beautiful marine animal.
"She says she knows you daddy." Rosie laughed. "Are you two friends?"
Lucas figured it was just her normal childish pretend. As he didn't recall ever meeting a dolphin. He was too afraid of the water to try and see one let alone save one.

"I think she's just grateful You freed her Rosie," Lucas said. He picked her up as she waved to the dolphin. The dolphin splashed them both trying to get their attention as it swam off. This made them both get soaked and laugh. Yet Lucas was still so proud of his little girl for her actions.
"It was the right thing to do, no one deserves to be stuck in a net Daddy." She responded. This made Lucas smile and he kissed her on the forehead.
"You're right my little flower, it is always good to help those in need no matter how big or small they may be," Lucas explained. Rosie nodded and her red hair still bounced as she was carried back to the beach. Her energy was still intact as she began to build a sand castle.

Her blue bucket and shovel were covered in sand within seconds. Lucas laughed and couldn't resist the temptation to take a picture. As she adored the sand castle she had created. It was only several piles of sand with some sticks but it was adorable.
"I hope it will stay up this time." She said.
"I'm sure you will make it work, I'll go get us some lunch, what would you like?" He asked.
"Hmm, a hot dog and snowcone please," Rosie responded.

"Alright birthday girl just don't let that spoil your dinner." He said then tickled her, she giggled and playfully told him to stop. Lucas faked hurt and placed a hand over his chest before letting her go.
"Daddy you're so silly." She laughed.
"Only for you my little flower, now I'll be right back remember to not go anywhere or talk to strangers." He responded and kissed her on the cheek. She nodded but rolled her eyes at his overprotective nature.
"I know Daddy but I'm a big girl now, if anyone strange comes by I could kick them." She declared.

"No we don't kick people unless it's absolutely necessary, just stay here okay honey." He responded.
Lucas then walked off towards the stand and for a minute all of the sounds around him vanished. At first, it was nice as it helped him think about his past with Jesse. There wasn't a day when he didn't think about his lost love. Even now anytime it rained or if he had to drive at night tears would slip out. As quickly as it started the silence became nerve-wracking. The hairs on his neck stood up and his muscles went numb. He didn't even notice it until he heard the sound of a splash and Rosie's cries.

"Ahh!" She screamed. Lucas shook out of his brief daydream and ran over to his little girl. In the distance, there was a flash of some kind of fish with a shiny tail.
"Rosie honey what happened?" He asked.
She ran into his arms with tears running down her face, a strange bite on her hand.
"Daddy some kind of evil mermaid tried to bite me!" She cried. Lucas knew she had an active imagination and often claimed to see mermaids. Normally he would play along for a bit but this was too far.
"Rosie there are no evil mermaids," Lucas said.
"But there is she had a gold tail and looked like a scary monster." She responded.

Lucas looked down at the bite on her hand and hugged her tightly. His mind ran a million miles an hour unsure what to do. Let alone to say that mermaids were mythological creatures.
"What else did you see honey?" He asked.
"She had white scary eyes, sharp teeth, and green skin like a snake." She responded. Lucas held back his concern as he took her back home. Rosie refused to let go of him whenever the pain in her hand spiked, which only concerned him more.
"I'm going to call a doctor okay, just hang in there sweetie," Lucas said.

"Please help me Daddy I'm scared." She said and hugged his neck.
"You'll be okay honey I promise I won't let anything happen to you." He responded
She tearfully nodded and looked down at her wound, there was no blood at least not wet. Everything was all dried up with a purple bruise and four holes around it. Lucas had no luck with any doctor as most thought he had lost his mind or told him it was just a fish bite.
This went on for the rest of the day and Rosie seemed to get better yet worse at the same time. She was left with a headache, dizzy spells, and chills, yet the bite healed itself.

"Daddy your face is doing the red thing again." Rosie whimpered in pain. His eyes brimmed with tears of frustration and she tried to hug him.
"I'm sorry Rosie I just don't know what to do." He responded.
"It's okay Daddy, none of this is your fault." She said. Her innocence was unmatched by the maturity she somehow possessed, Lucas had no idea where she got it from.
"Then why does it feel that way?" He asked himself as she snuggled with him. She shook her head and wrapped her small arms around his neck.
"We can get through it together, I love you, Daddy." She said.

It was a wonderful wish but all Lucas could feel in his chest was fear. The same fear he had when he got inside that car and saw all the beer cans in the passenger seat.