Are mermaids real? This is the question that 16 year old Mila keeps asking herself. It's something she never thought about... that is until she visits the tiny island of Jalukka and her life turns upside down.
Mila is a girl who has based her whole...
"Wake up, Honey." I hear my mom's soothing voice whisper as she gently strokes my hair. "Is she dead?" Matty asks through muffled sobs.
"No she didn't die, she's just fainted," my dad laughs. I can tell he is trying to make light of the situation for Matty's sake. And show him that it isn't as scary or as serious as everyone appears to make it seem.
If only they knew that it is quite scary and very serious, to me. I'm not fine and I am not going to be fine again until I am back home in Newton, MA, 50 million miles away. I know I can't go home though, and that it is a wasted wish. I am stuck here all summer.
So I have to make the most of it, as my mother told me practically everyday leading up to our departure. The one place I can escape to whenever I want, regardless of my location is my newly found happy place in the desert. But with everyone chattering and questioning my mortality I can't exactly go there at the moment, even though I desperately want to.
"How do you know she hasn't croaked?" Justin asks with a laugh.
"Mila hasn't moved since she fell on Justin and he pushed her off!" Matty cries.
"Listen to Mommy, Matty, Mila is fine. She just fainted. She's taking a nap. She'll be up any minute. Didn't you see there was a nice Doctor on board who looked at her and said she was okay. Well, except for that nasty bump on her head that she got when she hit the armrest after Justin pushed her off" Mom explains to Matty.
"I told you, I didn't mean to, it was a reflex." I am surprised Justin actually sounds apologetic to have caused me pain. Times like these make me realize how lucky I am to have such a caring older brother.
"Can someone please tell her to wake up. I want to hit the beach" Justin so lovingly states. I take back what I just thought... He is the least caring human being on earth.
"Shhhhhhh, don't be so insensitive, the beach can wait a little while longer." I hear mom say. "I don't know if my parents can, though," she mutters under her breath.
I sit there for a few minutes more with my eyes closed, trying to savor the last peaceful moments I have alone. On the plane, in the air I was a ball of nerves and panic. I felt claustrophobic and totally helpless flying over the Caribbean Sea.
Now that we have arrived and are on terra firma, I would much rather stay inside the Boeing 757 than venture outside where I will be one step closer to the water.
But I have to give in. I cannot stay on the plane any longer. I don't want my family waiting around for me any longer either. Especially Mom, she should be sitting down relaxing instead of worrying about me and Matty, who was also worrying about me, like a good brother should.
I open my eyes slowly letting the light overtake my body as the cabin comes into focus. There are four pairs of wide eyes staring down at me. No sooner than I have awoken from my sleep, I am being smothered with hugs from my parents and Matty. Justin just sits and observes the affectionate behavior from the comfort of the seat across the aisle. He does look relieved that I am okay and not dead, as he had told Matty I very well might be.
As I get up to grab my pink carry-on bag, I notice that Justin already has it slung around his brawny shoulder. I smile at him and he gives me his famous grin, the one that makes all of the girls swoon. I hardly ever get that smile from Justin.
My parents gather the rest of our things and we make our way off of the plane and down the stairs into the humid Caribbean air. As we descend the stairs Matty grabs my hand.
"I'm glad you're not dead" he innocently proclaims. "Me too" I say as I look around at the lush tropical landscape that surrounds the tiny airport. I can't believe I wanted to stay on the plane and miss this.
But then I see it. As we make our way to the baggage claim it is right there in front of us. Taunting me in its seductive way. "Isn't that beautiful Mila?" my dad asks as he puts his arm around my shoulder.
"Yea, totally," I lie as I stare open-mouthed at the great wide ocean that lay in front of us.
This is going to be a very long, summer I think to myself.
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