It's My Life

Chapter 30 - Recovery

The first thing I felt was shortness of breath, like my gills or airways were closing. I opened my eyes, forgetting where I was and gasping, trying to take in a deep breath but I couldn't. My tail felt weird and I struggled against the covers, unable to speak, my brain thinking 'help' but I couldn't be sure if it could be heard or not.
"Princess, calm down. Please look at me and calm down." I heard, feeling the pressure starting to build around me. No human body could last at these depths, I knew, and I looked at the medic, panic spreading through me, trying to understand what he was saying to me, and my eyes took in his tail and something awoke inside me. I was a mermaid. I could be a mermaid.
"Try and stop the change. Focus and stay in your Mer form." He said, and I focused my oxygen-starved brain, still panicking, into becoming a mermaid again.
"I'm a mermaid. A mermaid." I thought to myself, or aloud, I couldn't tell, and I felt my tail transform, my gills open, and I drew in lungfuls of oxygen enriched water, coughing and gasping. The doors opened and Mother, Father, Shanthe and Leira rushed in. I instantly went red.
"Oh God, I'm so sorry. I panicked." I started, but the medic made shushing motions as Mother came over.
"The princess woke up during transformation back to her human form, and panicked, also in pain due to the pressure. Humans cannot survive at these depths, not even in their special contraptions." The medic said. I sat up,
"I'm sorry." I thought sheepishly, and Leira moved over, sitting on the bed as Mother sat beside me too.
"It's okay, we understand." Leira said, hugging me. Mother and Father nodded, and Shanthe came over, sitting behind me, his hand touching my shoulder.
"I think now is as good a time as any to start her journey. Are the White's ready?" Father asked. The medic nodded. Leira, Shanthe and I looked from person to person.
"Journey?" I asked.
"Where's she going? She just came back to us." Shanthe added.
"We think it best you go to the land and spend time at the Embassy, ​​recuperate there, and the Whites will help you, look after you, and start your training in our ways. Then when you are fully well and have learned more you 'll come back here and we will have that celebration and talk more. And you know wherever you are, we love you and are so happy you're part of us again. " Father said gently, sounding choked up. I smiled
"I love you all too. I promise I will be a fast learner." I said softly. Everyone smiled.
"Just take it easy until you're well. I will get Andreas to write a formal letter to your school, and you can redo the school year if you wish to." Mother said. I nodded.
"Sounds good." I replied. The medic came back in.
"The rig is ready, and the Whites' are here." He said. I moved to swim off the bed but the medic came over.
"Don't move. We are going to carry you, as it were, back to the Embassy." The medic said.
"If ... if it's okay, I want to go to my home. It's right on the beach, and I can show you where to go. It has what I need, and my parents would help. My ... land parents . " I said, looking at Mother and Father. They looked at each other, then nodded.
"Okay. They will take you to your land home, and then supervise you as you transform to make sure you're okay, and the Whites will see you each day at the Embassy, ​​once you're recovered." Father said. I nodded and the medic moved to lift me off the bed but Shanthe got there first, holding me close. I rested against him as he swam out of the infirmary and out to where the rig was waiting, Andreas, Cora and Tom waiting beside it. I was laid on the rig, weighted in place, and four medics took their places at the four corners of the rig.
"No. Two medics, two guards. I want her protected at all time. I won't lose her again." Father said. I looked up at him.
"You won't." I said. He met my gaze, and nodded.
"Good." He said. Mother came over and kissed my forehead.
"See you soon, baby girl." Mother said. I smiled.
"You will." I replied. Shanthe and Leira moved closer. 
"Get well soon, little sis." Shanthe said.
"I'll try." I said. Leira smiled, though her eyes were a little red.
"You get better. I need a new shopping partner. And I have to show you everything, and you have to show me everything." She gushed. I laughed.
"After the celebration we can go land shopping." I said.
"I would like that." Leira said. Andreas, Cora and Tom came over.
"Oh, Cass." Tom said. I looked up at him.
"I'll be fine, I promise." I said.
"You will." The head medic said. 
"Let's go. The Silver residence awaits." Andreas said, and I smiled. I waved goodbye to Mother and Father, and my new siblings, and we headed out.