Beyond Beauty [HOLD]

01: Evadne

     The day has come, I've waited too long and here I am now. I put my chin up, staring back at my reflection. My mirror is as old as I am now. It's edges are slowly turning to rust and its texture, rougher. I take my coral and straighten the end of my hair, making myself look presentable.

They have to see me as an adult. I am not a child anymore. I'm proud of myself. Years of waiting and here I am, just a few steps away from freedom.

     When I was young, my mother always kept me inside the house. And when we were out, she never left my side. She was overprotective and was completely making me look like a child than a teen. I appreciate that, and I understand why.

     Mother didn't want me to be led in danger like she did. She always reminded me about this. But now that she's gone, it kind of let it all questionable.

Although I trust my mother with all my heart, I still ask myself... why did she have to leave so soon?

I swim to the hall and into our dining area. My keeper, Lea, is resting on the seat. She glances at me and smiles, like she'd seen me when I was born. Lea is my mother's sister, and she's taking care of me until the last days of my childhood. And yesterday was that day, and I'm wondering why she's not weeping.

Marc, Lea's friend, swims towards me and puts his palm on my shoulder. I look up at him with a faint smile. There must be something up.

Lea usually gets all emotional whenever an occasion is celebrated that includes me. But right now, she isn't whining. It's a good sign, right? It just means she's ready to give me in. She accepts the fact that I, her only niece, will finally have freedom to go on my own and marry whoever I want.

But I know that's not what's bothering her.

She approaches me, swimming calmly as she can, "Eve," she says with a smile, "Happy 21st birthday." her blue eyes are locking in with mine. She looks so beautiful, and she looks slightly like my mother. How I wish mom was here.

"Thank you, Lea." I say to her and glance over to Marc, "But I wish my mother was here."

Marc looks at Lea, and she grabs my hand and pats it. "She would've been happy,"

I look at her and smile back, "Yes."

She gasps softly like she just remembered something, "Which reminds me, it's time for you present." she says and swims away and to our living room.

A present? I never received any present since I turned 18. How I hope she won't be giving me any satchel or purse for that matter. I am not a kid anymore, and I'm not interested in any presentable material.

I just want to take a glimpse outside our little town. I want to see what the other areas underwater has.

"Come here," she asks me while holding a box,

I swim to her and wait, she opens the box and I could not see what was inside.

"What is that?" I ask her,

She takes out a material from the box which looked like an amulet. No, it was a necklace. It was silver, rusty, but its silver made the necklace look beautiful. It fought off the ancient look it gave. Why does it look so familiar?

"This," she puts the box down and swims an inch towards me, "This was you mother's."

I see, "Is it?" I ask her and she nods as a response,

"This was your mother's most priced possession, and she never let anyone have it. It was worn by our mother too,"

"She wants me to have it, doesn't she?"