| Seraphina |
| I don't know exactly how I ended up there, but somehow I found myself walking the white sands of that familiar beach. I didn't remember driving down the highway or pulling over onto the bluff. But I had. I sat on the sun-warmed sand, my feet buried beneath the pale grains, and stared outward to the sea freckled with the reflection of the stars above. My hand still ached slightly from the impact of my knuckles hitting Brynne's cheek. How could I have done that? Why did I do that? Brynne didn't know anything about Seraphina. She didn't know that although I loved her, I loved Seraphina more. Always had. Always would. Tears stung my eyes and I buried my face in my arms that perched across the tops of my knees. I cried until I couldn't cry any more, my eyes burned from my emotional release of moisture. I didn't know how I would be able to face Brynne after what I'd done. By more importantly, my feelings for Seraphina had resurfaced stronger than ever upon Brynne's accusation that Seraphina didn't love me anymore. "Nick?" a quiet voice said. I didn't look up. "Go away, Brynne! I'm sorry for hitting you! But I just want to be alone!" I shouted to the person behind the voice. All was quiet for a few moments, but then I felt a damp hand resting on my bare calf. I looked up with bloodshot eyes. Eyes that met with Femali's. "Nick are you okay?" Femali asked quietly. I shook my head. "No," I whimpered. "I don't know what to do." "About what?" she inquired. "My life. I'm torn between two women whom I love dearly. One doesn't understand me and the other wants nothing to do with me," I sniffled. Femali just gazed at me with the giant emerald orbs she had for eyes, understanding and the need for clarification shining brightly from within. "I love Seraphina, Femali. I'm ready to relinquish my life to the sea to be with her. I've been miserable since that day I watched her vanish under the ocean's surface," I began. "But, I cause her to be banished. Therefore, she doesn't want anything to do with me. So I stay with Brynne even though she doesn't love me like Seraphina did," I finished. My eyes flooded over with tears that I thought had dried up and rivers of sadness streamed down my face. Femali pulled me to her, soothing and consoling me. Stroking my hair and neck as I buried my face in the cool, damp skin of her breasts. My hand rested on her tail and absent-mindedly I caressed the rough scales, the first time I'd felt such a feeling under my skin. When the tears had subsided, she lifted my face to looke at me. Her eyes glistened with tears of her own as she spoke the words I'd waited so long to hear. "Nick, I'll take you to Seraphina. I know you love her. And are ready to make a life with her in the sea. Now you just have to convince her that you're ready," she said. I engulfed her in an enormous hug. "Thank you, Femali!" I said, excitedly. She released herself from the hug and pushed herself back toward the ocean. I sat on the beach, not knowing what to do next. "Follow me," she called from the water. I bolted for the water like a torpedo aime at its target and swam out to where Femali waited. She grabbed my hand in hers and dove under an inbound wave, dragging me under the waters with her. She took us deeper and deeper to where the water was darker and colder. The air trapped in my lungs burned for release and I struggled against her grip to return to the ocean's surface to replenish the air in my lungs. But her grip never faltered. Bubbled burst from my nostrils and mouth as the air trapped within me exploded into the water. I couldn't help but think I was going to die. There was no way to get to the surface in time for me to gulp in more air before I inhaled the water that would eventually suffocate me. Suddenly, Femali stopped and jerked me toward her. She pried open my mouth with her finger and sealed her lips around mine, filling my lungs with renewed air. I swallowed the air into my lungs hungrily, comforted by the knowledge that I would not die. When my lungs were filled to capacitym Femali released my lips and continued to drag me through the calm, cool waters to my final destination of seeing Seraphina again. The trek to Seraphina was long and tedious and I was glad that I did not have to swim much, but that Femali drug me through the waters with ease. We stopped every couple minutes in order for her to resupply my oxygen and I could see the sun starting to rise above us through the blurry water. When we finally resurfaced, only small remnents of night still clung to the sky in the west, the sun beginning its slow assent upward. I could see a small island of white sand and flourishing plam trees not too far ahead of us. Femali led me inland and when the water was shallow enough, she released my hand and I trudged to the sand. Not a single footprint marked the beach. Obviously deserted and void of people. I collapsed on the bleached grains, my chest heaving and my lungs burning from the long voyage under sea. I woke to the feel of a soft hand caressing my cheek and long hair brushing my arm. My eyes opened and I gasped. "Seraphina," I sighed, lifting my hand up to touch the silky bronze skin that I had missed. She hadn't changed. Her mouth was still the perfect pair of rosebud lips. Her hair was still vibrant with blond streaks scattered throughout. But most importantly, her eyes still retained the ocean blue of a perfect sea. "Nick," she whispered back, her fingers still delicately caressing my cheek. "I've missed you," she stated. I sat up and embraced her tightly, drowning in the emotions that overwhelmed me. Drowning in her arms. "I've missed you too, sweetheart," I replied, planting a kiss on her cheek. She pulled away slightly. "Femali told me you are married?" she half-questioned, half-stated. I nodded. "Her name is Brynne," I responded. "Then why are you here?" she inquired somewhat bitterly. "Seraphina, I don't love her like I love you. I've never stopped loving you. Ever. You are all I think about and all I want in my life," I explained. "I'm ready to spend the rest of my life in the ocean as long as it means I can be with you." A lone tear trickled slowly down her golden cheek and a small smile perked up the corners of her lips. "I love you, Nick," she whispered. "I love you more, Seraphina," I whispered back. Tentatively, our lips grazed each other's. The bolt of electricity I'd felt the first time my lips grazed hers returned with full force. I deepened the kiss, our tongues engaging in a renewed dance of love and passion. "Seraphina," I sighed. |