To Be Titled

Adeline [1]

I've always been a gigantic fan of swimming. I know that's a really weird way to put it... But it's true. My Mom says when I was a kid that she would have to fight me to get out of the bath, but isn't that every kid? 

"Adeline! Could you come and clean the dishes please?" my Mom shouted to me from downstairs. I was laying down in my bed, curled up in my purple covers like a cacoon. My room has always been a safe space for me. I was an only child, so I got my own room. I had fairy lights that went across my far right wall that resembled turtles. I always had them set to blue because it reminded me of the ocean. Sometimes if I was feeling crazy I would set them to green, though. I didn't have much in my room, just a bed, a dresser, my lights, a desk against my window and a simple chair, but it was enough for me. Some people don't even get a desk, so I knew I was lucky. 

"Adeline!" She roared again. I threw off my covers and set my phone down, and began my journey through the sea of clothes on my floor.

"I'm coming!" I replied, not wanting her to yell for me again. I hadn't gotten up out of bed for a few hours, so my legs were pretty rusty. I hobbled down the stairs like I was a toddler and eventually made it to the kitchen.

"Thank you, honey. I'm going to run to the store later. Do you need anything?" My Mom said. She's a very kind woman, I love her. I also know I'm lucky to have her. I can tell her literally anything. She supports LGBT, which is perfect for me, hates Trump, all that good stuff. She's great.

My Mom is about 5'2, shorter than me. She was lean and had medium-length blonde hair, with a few gray streaks coming in. The only part that I mirrored of her was her deep blue eyes. Other than that, I resembled my Dad more. I have dark brown hair that cascades down my back, freckles on my pale skin, and I was pretty lanky. I was 5'8, so being lanky just kind of came with that territory.  

I thought hard about what my Mom had asked, because I knew that the second she got home I'd remember something I needed. "No, I don't think so." 

"Are you sure? I don't want to have to make another trip." She replied. I was 16 and had my drivers license, however I didn't have my own car and my Mother wasn't fond of me taking her expensive car, which I understood. 

"Oh, get some more pizza rolls. We're dangerously low." I told her as I walked to the sink, turning on the water and making sure it was hot enough to clean the dishes but not too hot where I'd lose some skin. 

"You go through those so fast! Maybe I'll just buy two bags." She joked, grabbing her purse and slipping on her sandals.

"I've been telling you that!" I giggled. I picked up the first dish in the sink and gagged as it seemed to be the left-over cereal I didn't finish this morning. I suppose that's my punishment for wasted cereal.

"Okay. I'll be home soon. I love you." She said, opening the door to the garage.

"Love you too. Don't have too much fun." I responded, continuing to do the dishes as I gagged a little bit. 

The door closed and the house rattled a little. She says she doesn't slam the door, but she totally does. The garage door creaked open and eventually did the same when closing, indicating I was alone in the house. I sighed as I looked at the above-ground pool in the backyard, longing to be relaxing in there rather than scrubbing mystery food off of plates.

Just looking at the pool seemed to get me working, as before I knew it I had no more dishes to do. I dried them quickly and put them away, running upstairs to get my swimsuit. I dug through my clothes and found my two piece yellow swimsuit and threw it on. I bolted down the stairs, making the entire railing shift with me whipping around it, and nearly ran into the sliding glass door. I slid it open carefully, and then dove into the pool. 

I don't know exactly why, but I've always just felt safer in the pool. We lived in Washington, so we were in a state bordering the ocean, however we were a few hours from it. So this was good enough for me. The way the current changed with the movement of my feet fascinated me. How bubbles stick to your legs after a while, and your skin begins to wrinkle, begging you to please get out of the water. 

I've been able to open my eyes underwater since I was a child, and it boggles my mind that some people can't do that. When I open my eyes, it's like I'm in another world. Everything seems to be a different hue. Not like it's blue, but like it's... Glowing. I could stay underwater forever. I've tried to see how long I could hold my breath before, but my Mom always got upset and pulled me up, yelling at me. The longest I've made it is four entire minutes, and I only got out because I saw my Mom's hands reaching in to grab me. I don't even try it when she isn't home, because after all the stories she's told me of other kids, I'm afraid I could drown. But I'd like to see how long I could make it.

I came up out of the water, my hair sticking to my face and body like it was glued down. I took one quick breath and immediately went right back under into paradise. However, as I opened my eyes, I was met with something I never expected.

I looked to the floor of the pool, and saw a pearl.