Eyes of the Sea

Chapter 4

I tore away from Coral, running towards somewhere, anywhere that would get me away from her. I had enough of this nonsense. I heard her calling from behind me, but I ignored her and kept running. Who did she think she was, telling me that my mother would be the death of me, literally? She's dead, I repeated to myself. She can't hurt me. Even if she could, why would she?

I ran across the parking lot and ran the opposite direction from my house. I let my body guide my way to nowhere. A few minutes later, in the middle of a park, I stopped, winded. Catching my breath, I sat down on a park bench, watching some kids play on the playground, too young to be at school.

I felt tears well up in my eyes and hastily pushed them down. I would not cry, not here in the middle of a park, sitting on a pathetic bench all by myself. I'm better than that. There was no reason to cry, anyways. I wasn't going to listen to some crazy girl who was probably trying to play some cruel trick on me.

I took a shaky breath and looked at my surroundings. I was surrounded by a forest, with a trail that led into it. Other than that and the playground, there wasn't much in this sad little park.

I got up off the bench and brushed off my jeans. Tucking my hair behind my ears, I headed towards the trail. Walking in the forest would clear my thoughts; it always does.

Walking into the forest brought a sense of peacefulness that rushed towards me like a warm breeze. I instantly felt at home in this little sanctuary. 

I continued to follow the trail until it led to a small stream. I didn't know that there was a stream there before. I felt a strange urge to walk up to the stream, so I did. I sat down on the damp grass and took off my boots. Setting them aside, I slowly peeled off my socks.

For some reason, I gently dipped my toes in the water. The water seemed to get more alive. The flow of the water started to move more insistently. I dangled my legs in the water, smiling softly to myself at the sight I was seeing.

The water looked like I was its centre of energy. Even the fish kept swimming up to me and nibbling on my toes before swimming off.

Without meaning to, I let out a genuine laugh and grinned. I felt a strange sensation being here in this forest by this stream. I placed my fingertips in the water and let it glide through the water. It felt as if I was controlling it. The thought seemed crazy until I remembered Coral and what she said.

With a sudden urgency, I cupped my hands in the water and lifted out a handful of water. It didn't quickly seep out like it used to do before. It stayed in my hands. I grinned with glee. Was this where my body led me? The forest around me seemed to say yes. But why? Was this because of the whole 'daughter of the sea' thing? If so, I sure wasn't complaining.

I brought the handful of water close to my mouth and lightly blew on it. The water instantly responded. It sprang out of my hands and into the water in a mini waterfall. It only lasted for a moment until all the water of my hands was gone, but it was breathtaking. The water sparkled in the sunlight, like tiny diamonds.

Tears came to my eyes, and I let them fall without shame because they were tears of joy. I just witnessed my own little miracle. I lay down on the bed of moss surrounding the stream and stared at the sky through the treetops. I smiled to myself.

 Mom? I thought, are you there? Did you do this to me? And why would you drown me? It doesn't make any sense. Sighing, I just stared at the endless sky. I would worry later, but for now, I would just enjoy my sanctuary.

Getting up, I took off my shirt, leaving me in just a tank top and jeans. I hopped into the stream and walking into the center. I grinned down at the fish around me. The fish were of all different colours and sizes. Each and every one of them were beautiful. I wanted to try something.