Just breathe, Darling

Her baby-soft hands curled into the waves like they’d found a new home. The waves embraced her in return, a heavy wool blanket to warm her still aching heart.

She hadn’t meant to fall in. Not truly.

One moment, she was listening to the sound of crashing water upon the beach, and watching the seagulls swoop by as they called to one another. Her feet were dangled precariously on the edge of the cliffside as she swung her legs, back and forth. It was the end of another day when last droplets of sun warmed her face and spattered against the purple hues of an incoming night sky. The stars winked into existence.

And then?

A hard shove to her back sent her tumbling down into the rocky shores. A sharp snap! was all that she heard before the dark and the cold washed over her. Her blood swirled into the waters and at 9:41pm on a Friday afternoon, 6-year-old Roslyn Pepper passed away.

But at 9:43pm on that very same afternoon, she came back to life.

It started with a kiss to her forehead, as all good things do, and slowly but surely, feeling crept along the edges of her fingertips.

“Hush,” a voice said, “Just breathe, darling. I know it’s a bit tricky at first, but breathe.”

As she opened her eyes, Roslyn breathed. She breathed in through the gills in her sides, and drank up the sight of her beautiful mother. One she had not seen in many months. Missing.

“I missed you,” Roslyn gasped, “Where have you been?”

Her mother smiled a smile full of sharp teeth and brand new secrets, “I’ve been waiting for you, my dear. I’m sure you’re hungry. It’s past your dinnertime.”

Roslyn nodded, “Yes, papa forgot to feed me.” Again.

“Well, then let me show you where to get a snack around here. You remember that song I taught you, right?"

“Yes, I do,” Roslyn nodded with tears in here eyes. They were swept away by the waves. The song had been a lullaby, one her mama taught her before she’d gone missing. Of course she remembered it.

Roslyn’s mother smiled another secret smile. Only this one seemed sweeter, “Good, my dear. We’re going to need it.”

It was only then that Roslyn noticed the group of women behind her mama. Ones with tails, to match their own. They, too, had secret little smiles.

She really hadn’t meant to fall in. Not truly.

But, she soon became glad that she had.

After all, family should stick together.