Waters Edge

Chapter fifteen: Stars, Scars and Leaving You

"Pete this my brother." Patrick looks at me and smiles brushing some of my wet hair off my forehead. I gape at him a moment before my eyes latch back onto the merman across from us, with a disapproving look on his face.

"Do you have a name?" I ask my voice sounds hoarse and I cough the air burns. His brother laughs somewhat menacingly before making a high-pitched clucking/ screaming noise. I cover my ears immediately and start yelling at him to stop. This guy must hate me, Patrick takes my hand to see if I am okay and then glares over at his brother who just frowns.

"He upset, are you okay?" Patrick coos petting my damp hair and cupping my face.

"I'm fine but your brother is a dick," I say glaring over at him, which probably doesn't hold much heat. Suddenly his brother swims over and snatches Patrick away, they swim a few feet away they start talking to one another in a different language. Making clicking noises at one another like a couple of dolphins. Patrick gets a pouty look on his face and his brother looks very angry and keeps gesturing towards me. Then his brother grabs Patrick's arms and starts pointing at the cuts and bruises that litter his arms. New bruises just starting to bloom across his delicate skin. Patrick pushes his brother off and says something quietly before coming back over to me.

I hug Patrick close when he comes back burying my face in his sea salt scented hair. "Deep breath," Patrick whispers into my ear before we submerge into the water. I feel the want to flip off his brother as we take off under the water but I refrain. It isn't until several minutes later that we resurface. I cough and sputter as I pull in a breath everything burns. I catch my breath and then we plunge under water again.

The second time we come back up the sun is just creeping over the horizon. The sight is breathtaking the sky alive with shades of oranges, reds, and pinks sparkle off the water and bounce off the clouds. It looks like a painting in a fairy tale book as I gaze at it I realize it has been a long time since I have stopped to admire the simple beauty of nature. I was so focused on making ends meet, so worried and just shut in. I never stopped to admire the place in which I live. I glance at Patrick to see him admiring the view as well. His eyes look red and wet and I wonder if that is from the water or if something his brother had said hurt him.

His arm sits firmly around my waist and water droplets fall off of him and drip onto my arm which is snaked around his neck. "Thank you," I whisper and he looks over at me I swing my other arm around to loosely hang around his shoulders, "for saving me." He smiles and cups my check.

"Welcome Pete," his smile then fades and his hand falls away from my face down to my hip. He bites his lip and stares down at the water. "I take you home, but then I go."

I duck my head and try to catch his eyes but he refuses to look at me. "When will you come back?" I ask my throat tightens as I squeak out the words worried about the answer. Based on Patrick's reaction it won't be a good one.

"I can't come back." He says looking up and locking his eyes on mine, "is too dangerous here. I have to leave these waters, maybe move to the Pacific Ocean." He touches my cheek gently and sniffles softly "I am sorry Pete."

I nod biting back tears. "Let me come with you, please, I can move to a deserted island in the middle of nowhere, it will be just me you and the ocean. I promise we can be together. Please just don't leave me here alone you are the only one that makes me feel alive." Tears start falling down my cheeks as I grip desperately onto Patrick's shoulders.

He turns his head away and I see where we are. Back at the island, right where my boat crashed just a few days ago. I look back at Patrick and he has a detached look in his eyes. He lets me go and grabs onto both my arms. "Let me go." He states firmly and I gasp in shock as he shoves me away from him.