Forever Tide: My True Identity

Chapter Three

Chapter Three

I was actually a mermaid! I couldn’t even tell if I was nervous, I had so much excitement inside of me that all I was feeling was sheer, uncontainable joy. I knew that it was hard on Mama and Papa, I knew that they did not want to lose me, but even then I couldn’t be brought down, I knew from the moment I was old enough that  I belonged in the sea.

My excitement may have hid my nerves about being a mermaid but they did nothing to even remotely, contain the nerves that I was dealing with when it came to meeting these instructors. If they were all like Rictor I think that I am going to enjoy my lessons. If any of them are at all like Sanshea, I may pass out from fear. She is intimidating.  Scars raked over her entire body, and her eyes were cold, and calculating, not to mention her size. Size alone was enough to scare most people, and hers was just daunting, I am not sure why but she was the size of at least four normal dolphins. I knew one thing for sure if she was ever not on my side, I was running for the hills.

I hadn’t figured out how to address Mama yet, and I could feel her eyes on me. Turning to glance her way I saw the pain, fear, and was it guilt or regret. I hated to see her feel so, but I had no clue what I was doing. How do I tell my mother that I love her but I am going to be leaving her? That is not an easy task for anyone to tackle, yet it was my fate.

While thinking of what to say I took a good look at her and Papa. For the first time I noticed their graying black hair, the frown lines criss-crossing their brows, and the laugh lines along their mouths. My parents weren’t young when they found me, and the looks of their ragged bodies the past years had been hard on them. How is it that I had never noticed these things before?

It shouldn’t have surprised me after all I was the “me” child. Everything that I did was all about what is best for Emilae, it was when am I going to go swimming, or when am I going to have space. What are you going to do for me? I am selfish, and a terrible daughter, I don’t get how they have loved me. I will make it up to them in these next two weeks I am going to be the best daughter that I can be.

“Mama, I love you.”

“I love you too baby girl. Do you have to go?”

“Yes Mama I do. You and Papa have known this was my destiny. I love the sea, it is my home, and my calling. Even for you I could never give that up.”

“I know baby, and I would never dream of asking you to do that. I just don’t want to let you go, you have become my daughter. “

“I know Mama, you know that just because I have a destiny, and a new family I am not abandoning you. I will make sure that I visit as often as I can. You deserve to know that your baby girl is okay. Promise me that you won’t worry too much. I will even stay in the house for the next two weeks, I promise.”

“Thank you baby, that means the world to me. Should we go and get the cove, and cave ready for guests?”

“Probably, but Mama I am not sure what they are going to need. Do you have any ideas?”

“I have no idea child, do you even know who is coming. As in what type of teachers are going to be here?”

“No, Rictor didn’t say anything, I could ask him. He was going to look around with Sanshea for a little bit, he seemed nervous.”

“Nervous, maybe we should wait I don’t want you in the water if something is wrong.”

“I will be careful I promise.”

Mama worried too much, I am not sure that she is going to handle me being away very well. Blowing her and Papa a kiss I dove right off the boat, entering the sea I loved. That feeling as my body first breaks the water’s surface never gets old.