Adrift: A Little Mermaid Retelling

31: Agnes

It was in the afternoon, when I was at work in the garden. My husband was not at home.

I heard someone whisper my name and shot to my feet, whirling round in fear. Then I saw him, crouched behind our rain barrel.

At first, I did not know him. He was so changed in the years that had passed. But when I saw a crooked smile come to his face, I recognized him. I was on my knees in the dirt; that was lucky, for had I been standing, my legs would have given way.

Dannie mouthed my name. I held up a hand, glancing up at the windows of the house. Fear made me shake. I knew Aroc was not at home, but Tana was, and she was my husband's servant—never mine.

A solution presented itself to me; it would be dangerous, but safer than staying where we were. I motioned for him to wait, then stood up and shook the crumbs of dirt from my dress. I went inside.

"I am going to the market, Tana," I called, hoping Dannie would hear me through the open window. "Have we need of anything except new needles and some flour?"

"We could do with some more candles, Mistress," she replied from the other room. "If the price is good, two dozen."

I took money out of the box where my husband left my allowance and tucked it into the pocket of my gown. "Very well."

"Would you like me to go instead, Mistress?"

"No, Tana. Thank you. The fresh air and exercise will do me well. I shall return presently." I secured my bonnet over my hair. My fingers were shaking as I pinned it in place. Then, I slipped out of the house with a basket over my arm.

I paused at the corner of the house, hoping that Daniel would see me standing there on the side of the road. I pretended to adjust my bonnet again to give him time. Then I walked on, eyes downcast, sensing him walking behind me.

I went on until I thought I had come to a safe enough place to stop and talk. I did not want others to see me; I was paranoid that Aroc would find out and thrash me for my treachery. He had as much as promised me he would kill Dannie the night he discovered the shirt and my imagined faithlessness.

I simply could not pass up the opportunity to see Dannie. He was my oldest friend. My only friend. I knew I could not ask him to help me, but I had been friendless for so long.

I ducked into an alley between the baker's and the jail and followed it until my progress was stopped by a high fence; then I turned and walked farther along the back of the bakery, where the smell of warm, fresh bread hung heavy in the summer air. His arms were around me as soon as I stopped.

A shudder passed through me. It was a sob. "Oh, Dannie," I whispered.

He turned me toward him and embraced me, putting my head against his shoulder. "Ness. It has been so long."

"I've missed you." I dropped my basket onto the ground and curled my fingers into the back of his shirt. "How I have missed you. I was cruel to you, Dannie, and I am sorry for it; I have suffered for it every day these long years past."

"Cruel? Look at me." Dannie took my face in his hands and looked into my eyes. "Ness, tell me what has happened."

"I married."

"I know it." He hesitated. "Isn't marriage a cause for celebration?"

I turned my head and spat on the ground. I opened my mouth to say, I hate him, but the words would not come—even now when Aroc could not hear.

"Ness ..."

"If he sees me here—if he finds us—"

Dannie shushed me softly. "What? What is it?"