Rebirth

PART 1

She had felt the urge to go the beach ever since she started going through the lagoon on her way to her former job. She never had the time or extra money to make the trip. But today, she finally had spare cash and time on her hands. She was wearing a white dress-shirt over a blue swimsuit her mother had gotten for her several months ago. She ran her hand over her head forgetting she had cut her hair in a moment of depression after she quit her job. She missed her afro very much. She decided to go to the beach today because she needed to arrange her thoughts.

She got a taxi that took her from her house to the beach. It had been almost ten years since she last came. Her mother brought her and her siblings once when they first relocated to the city. There were a lot of people at the beach this afternoon. Most of them were workers who had come to unwind from the stress of a hectic week.

She found a bamboo shack that had a nice view of the ocean and walked in. She paid for a drink and sat on a beach chair facing the sea, thinking about her life. She was so deep in thought she did not realize someone had occupied the seat beside hers. She picked up her drink and decided to take a walk. The man that occupied the seat beside hers stood up as well. She hurried out of the shack and started to walk towards the deserted part of the beach so she could think.

"She is calling you" an electrifying voice said from behind her. She stood rooted to the spot like they jazzed her.

"Pardon?"

"She is calling you".

Her beach chair partner now in front of her said, inclining his head towards the sea as he spoke.

"Who is calling me?"

"Anyanwu"

"Anyanwu? Who is Anyanwu?"

"Anyanwu is the eye of the sun and she has requested your presence" he replied. He looked up at the sky and noticed the sun was about to set and that was when she noticed his features. He was very attractive but that was not the issue now.

"I don't understand what is going on and I am sorry I cannot come with you".

"I am also sorry but it is important that you come with me. I will explain everything after you meet her".

"Okay where exactly are we going?" He pointed towards the sea.

"What? Wait, you are mistaken. I cannot swim and why am I meeting her inside the sea? She is the goddess of the sun, shouldn't I be meeting her in the sky or something?"

"At sunset, she visits her sister Mmirri, the goddess of the sea and your location makes it easy for us".

"But how am I supposed to breathe underwater? What does she even want with me?"

"About breathing, I am here to guide you and you will get answers to your questions when you come with me. Let us hurry now, we do not want to keep her waiting. It is rude to keep an important presence like hers waiting".

"Okay, let's go" She said as she made the sign of the cross.

She was curious and let the stranger take her hand and lead her into the water. She wondered if anyone was watching and if it seemed strange to them that she was walking into the water with him. She had dropped her drink at some point and her mouth felt dry. Soon the water was the same level as her neck.

"Hold your breath, it is about to get interesting from here." He told her.

She held her breath and closed her eyes then she felt his hand tug hers, pulling her under. She opened her eyes, about to hold her breathe when she realized she could breathe under water. She relaxed and let the stranger guide her. As they walked, she saw the outline of the sun setting into the water. He started to walk faster, pulling her along. Then they got to a door where he knocked, opened the door and walked in with her. She saw two young girls about her age but in the place of legs, they had the lower bodies of fishes. She almost freaked out but she managed to maintain her composure.