The sea rose in tumultuous swells rocking my small boat like a hammock in a hurricane. With each undulation I would rise up to God, stretch out my hands in prayer, only to be dragged away. The sky had never seemed so near yet so far.
I’d grown long past the point of uneasiness, my stomach having vacated it’s contents the previous evening. All that remained was my soul — I wasn’t ready to give it up without a fight. With no food and only half a bottle of tepid water, I knew time against me, but I refused to yield; I owed it to the others. That’s when I saw her. That’s when I knew hope.
She dipped up and down like a buoy brought to life, a demarcation to more hazardous waters — weren’t they all. I rubbed my eyes but only managed to knead salt into them. By the time I’d finished blinking, her aquamarine fingers clung to the boat.
I backed away — for what good that extra foot did — and waited as she peeped over the rotting wood; she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever seen. More defined than a dream, yet more surreal than reality, her topaz eyes took me in appraising me from head to toe. I should’ve been honoured to be gazed upon by such as she, but I felt violated if truth be known, though I was unsure why. Lascivious, I might have said if pushed. Yes, lascivious; her eyes revealed her thoughts.
You are lost.
It was not a question just a statement of fact. I nodded my agreement.
They will not come for you.
Again, I dipped my head.
Come.
She offered me a hand of coral rings, her nails pearlescent in the wavering light.
I took it — wouldn’t any man — my mouth unwilling to spill the questions it contained. And, as I lowered myself into the dark water, I saw it, her tail, extending away in twinkling starbursts.
I will take care of you.
She whispered the words like the wind in a conch, a distant memory of lands once visited. “Where?” I managed as I struggled to keep my head above water.
Beneath, below, is where we go. Beneath, below, forever.
We dipped beneath the ocean, her lips about mine, feeding me the air I required. Through the dark and turbulent waters we swept, I marvelling, she unmoved. And when we’d gone as far as man might, we dipped again into fantasy. She did indeed lead me beneath, below, and I knew I’d never return.
The End.
Amazing. I need to come up with some new superlatives 🙂 Love this story, Richard. It reads like poetry.
Much appreciated, Diana. 😄
Lovely tale of fantasy. I love this story! 🙂
Thanks, Sebnem 🙂
beautiful story – I enjoy reading your work blessings to you
Thank you very much 🙂
Beauty at its summit. Richard you are so good with natural descriptions
Thanks, Shreya 🙂
Beautifully written.
Thank you, Ann. 🙂
I’m visiting via Diana at Myths of The Mirror. A beautifully written story that’s introduced me to some new imagery … “hammocks in a hurricane” will be in my head for a while 🙂
Thank you. Diana spoils me. I’m glad you enjoyed the story. 😄
Reblogged this on Musings on Life & Experience and commented:
A beautiful post of Richard Dankers’ work.
Richard, wonderful writing and story which immediately pulled me in and into the boat…an enchanted forbidding place and the mystical leading to the only possible conclusion. Beautiful, haunting. Loved the idea of ‘More defined than a dream, yet more surreal than reality’.
Thank you, Annika. I’m glad you thought it worked. 🙂
Thanks to Diana, I find your story here and am sucked under with the beauty of the mermaid, and your words. Glorious.
Thank you very much. Diana’s an angel and spoils me far too much. 🙂
Diana is an amazing writer AND an amazing supporter of other writers. I’ve never met her ‘in person,’ but consider her a good friend. 🙂
Yes, I think everyone considers her a good friend. 🙂
Nice to find you due to the spoiling treatment of the phenomenal Diana. Great story. I’d love to read more?
Thanks very much, and you never know.:)
I’m liking your reply…
Diana is right… your writing is beautiful, hypnotic, poetic. I enjoyed it very much. 😊
Thank you, Ali, I’m glad you enjoyed it. 🙂
very beautiful!
Thank you very much 🙂
What a detailed writing. ❤
Thank you 🙂