A Brush of Blue

Chapter 3: Apart of her world

The smell of saltwater clung to Naomi's skin as she stood ankle-deep in the surf, adjusting the straps of her well-worn diving suit. The ocean stretched out before her, an endless expanse of shimmering blue under the early morning sun, while behind her, the small town of Blue Haven still slept under a light mist. The stillness was a stark contrast to the bustling mornings she knew city dwellers experienced, but here, it was the kind of peace Naomi had always craved.

She loved this time of day, just before the world fully woke up. The ocean was calm, with only the soft rhythm of waves crashing against the shore and the occasional cry of a seagull breaking the silence. It was the perfect time for fieldwork, especially on a day like today when she and her team would be tagging turtles—one of Naomi's favorite tasks.

Naomi's heart steadied as the cool water lapped against her waist. The ocean always felt like home to her, and every time she submerged herself in its depths, it was like returning to a place she belonged. The sea had been her escape, her refuge, ever since she was a child growing up in Blue Haven. Its vastness had a way of making everything else seem small—worries, grief, even the weight of her father's death so many years ago. She was drawn to the water in ways she couldn't always explain. It was like her soul was tethered to it.

"Naomi, you ready?" called Sarah, one of the younger members of her team, from further up the beach. She was already in her wetsuit, gathering the equipment needed for the day's work.

Naomi nodded, giving her a quick thumbs-up as she slipped on her mask. "Yeah, let's get going!"

The rest of her crew was busy setting up the monitoring station they'd use to track the turtles, their figures moving about in the distance. Naomi smiled to herself as she waded farther into the water. The team she worked with was small but dedicated, a close-knit group who shared her passion for marine conservation. Today's goal was simple—tagging sea turtles and collecting data that would help them monitor the health and migration patterns of the population. The work wasn't glamorous, but it was vital, and Naomi couldn't imagine doing anything else with her life.

Taking a deep breath, Naomi slipped beneath the surface of the water.

As soon as she descended, the world around her transformed. The water was crystal clear, revealing a vibrant underwater world that teemed with life. Fish darted through patches of coral, their scales reflecting the sunlight that filtered through the waves, while seaweed swayed gently with the current. Further ahead, Naomi spotted what she had come for—a few sea turtles gliding lazily through the water, their large eyes blinking slowly, as though unbothered by her presence.

Naomi moved with the grace of someone who had spent years underwater. She approached the turtles carefully, her movements slow and deliberate. One of the larger turtles, a female, lingered near the coral, nibbling on the plants. Naomi recognized her from past dives—she had been monitoring this particular turtle for nearly a year. The sight of the creature, moving so gently through the water, brought a quiet sense of peace to Naomi's heart. There was something about the turtles' steady pace, their quiet grace, that always reminded her to slow down, to breathe deeply, to find calm even in the chaos of life.

Naomi reached for the tagging equipment, her fingers moving expertly. She had done this countless times, but the act never lost its significance. The tag she placed on the turtle's shell would allow her team to track its journey across the ocean for the next several months, gathering vital data about its migration and feeding patterns. Every small action mattered, and Naomi was keenly aware of the responsibility they carried to protect these creatures.

After securing the tag, she watched as the turtle swam away, its movements slow and deliberate, disappearing into the distance. Naomi hovered in the water for a moment longer, taking in the serenity of the underwater world before surfacing.