Mermaids☽ Leah Clearwater

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Sniffling and hushed cries echoed off the walls. Leah sat beside her mother, her hand laced together with hers, Leah found that hard to believe. They had never gotten along well, they were constantly fighting or ignoring the others existence, but death of a common loved one had the effect of bringing people together.

On Leah's other side sat Emily, she too was holding her hand tightly. Offering small squeezes of reassurance to Leah all through the ceremony.

No words could describe the feeling Leah was feeling.

Sad? Yes.

Depressed? Not quite yet.

Anger? A little.

Pain? Yes. A lot.

The words that left the pastor's mouth were of no comprehension to Leah. She wasn't even listening to what he was saying. Her mind was too focused on replaying the last memory she had had with her father.

Leah had been worried and stressed out. Her boyfriend had gone missing and she was going crazy. Her father had told her to calm down, that he was sure Sam's had an explanation. He reminded Leah the type of person Sam was, surely he knew what he was doing, Leah just needed to be patient. Sam would come back when the time was right. Henry liked Sam, he saw no one better for his little girl. The talk had calmed Leah down, a tad bit. She was thankful that she had her father by her side. He was there for her whenever she needed him.

That was three days ago.

Now, her father laid lifelessly in front on her. Dressed in a tux, with his hands folded over his chest. His skin growing paler by the second, his eyes sewn shut.

That was not the last memory Leah wanted of her father. She desperately tried to erase it. Instead, she focused on the one that took place three days ago. When her father was dressed in his fishing gear, his hands wrapped around her. His skin tan and glowing and his eyes were open and happy.

A new flood of tears gushed down her face. She bit her lip hard, she would cry silently for her father. She held back the sobs that burned in her throat. She would mourn her father's death in silence. She would not cause a scene, she didn't want attention.

Leah was strong. She knew she was.

Over the years Leah had willed herself to be strong. She needed to be strong, for herself.

Now, Leah willed herself to be strong. She needed to be stronger than ever before, for her family.

Her mother was a wreck. Sue loved Henry, she was sure he was her soulmate. Yes, there were times in which they fought and disagreed but what relationship doesn't have fights? Sue was taking his death very hard. Then, there was Seth, her little brother. Seth hadn't said a word since their father's death. His face remained blank, occasionally a few tears would be unleashed but that was it. He wasn't a tearful mess like his mother and Leah, he was like stone. His behavior worried Leah. She wanted to talk to him but they never had a good bond before and Leah wasn't sure how to approach him.

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Leah held onto her mother, nuzzling her into her chest. Stroking her hair and whispering that it was all going to be okay.