when he was younger, all he had was the ocean and nature as a whole. to be able to escape from the harsh reality of his world and sit there, listen to the world that was nature, the beach, and feel so content in those moments that something like his REALITY did not affect him. this is what it felt like, those sweeter moments, but this time he was with someone he truly loved, and to be able to share those moments made it even more special. he would hold onto her hand, fingers laced, as they easily made their way into the water. the warm sensation made him smile brighter, head tilted to catch her gaze as she begins to speaks. baby steps, conversation used as a distraction, âare they?â heâd ask, interest piqued as he looks out to the horizon. âwhat is a naiad then? and, more importantly, are they out here?â heâd smile, they were already ankle deep, does she notice?
she notices -- and sheâs terrified, but sheâs trying not to let it get to her. âi donât think they live in the ocean. iâve researched them - theyâre kind of like... spirits of bodies of freshwater? like, every lake has a spirit and thatâs what a naiad is. they look like people but if people looked more watery.â she laughs. âthat doesnât make sense. if anything supernatural is in the ocean, itâs probably a mermaid.â she bumps his hip with her before she sighs. âthe spirit of the lake by my house -- she tried to drown me, once she saw me manipulating the waters.â hand would be shaking if he wasnât already holding them. âshe dragged me down by my ankles, and i swear it was almost as bad as -â she stops. he knows where sheâs going with that sentence. âanyways, my dad ended up coming outside and FREAKING out.. but I never really felt safe in any water after that.â and she drops his hand, to slip her arm around his torso. her heart is thrumming fast, but she feels safe right then, with him beside her.
















