I looked into the aquarium.
The fish were swimming in the water, gently and effortlessly.
Not knowing or caring about the problems on the other side of the glass.
Just caring for themselves.
Without single care in the world, but to keep swimming.
Just keep swimming.
They could leave everything behind.
All their worries, stress, pain, and never go back to it.
That's the feeling I was jealous of right now.
Because right now, the only feelings I was able to feel were pain, stress, confusion, and anger.
I was drowning in those emotions, trying to catch something that will bring me back up, away from all of this.
But that ledge of hope that I was trying so hard to find was nowhere to be seen.
I looked at the floor, away from the glass tank which was filled with colorful fish.
My eyes met the blue carpet, designs were present on it, the color of the light blue sky when it is starting to rain.
All those emotions revolved around him.
The Merman.
There were so many things about him that made me question my sanity.
Why did I care so much about him? Why did I feel this way? Why did I feel his pain? Why was I the only person that it happened to?
Hell, some of those emotions were his, it felt.
As if they broke inside my head, and taunted me.
And then Doctor Shaun said something that still bothers me.
A spiritual connection with you. That's why you wanted us to stop. That's why you felt the pain.
I didn't even see Mrs. Black sit next to me.
"Aria, are you feeling okay?" she asked gently, cautious of the reaction she'll get.
Her hand found her way to my arched back, slowly starting rubbing it.
I sighed.
I looked at her, getting my eyes off the glass, and told her the truth.
" I don't know."
Her eyebrows were furrowed in concern.
" Do you want to talk about it?" she questioned softly.
A moment of silence filled the quiet room.
The only sound present was the churning of the water that the filter pushed inside the tanks.
Words wouldn't leave my mouth.
There were so little and so much I wanted to say.
So much it felt like nothing.
A sob escaped my mouth.
The first tears escaped my eyes, the tears that I haven't shed when my life was falling apart.
The tears from the first time he did something weird to me.
The tears that I tried so hard to ignore.
Mrs. Black brought me to her embrace.
She rubbed my back while letting me cry into her shoulders.
All my anger, pain, confusion, stress, came out in the form of tears.
The salt water welled in my eyes, overflowing the bowl.
" I'm s-sorry," I whimpered out.
" Shhh, cry it out, sweetheart." Mrs. Black cooed in my ear.
The barrier that was built around my emotions was destroyed, tarnished and broken down.
My tears slowed down, leaving me in a hiccuping mess.
I could already imagine myself with a red nose, a sticky face, and swollen eyes.
I picked myself up and sat parallel to Mrs. Black.
I let out a breath.
Mrs. Black's lips formed into a soft smile.
" Are you feeling better?" She asked.
I nodded and put a regretful tight-lipped smile.
" Sorry for having to take care of a mess I am right now."
She shook her head slowly.
" Don't apologize for that, Aria," she said.
I smiled.
We said our goodbyes and I went to my car.
The sun was already setting, and the cool breeze hugged my body.
I drove out of the parking lot and started driving to my house.
I saw the familiar building that I called home, the lights were still on from my go out.
I walked to the door and opened it.
I locked it behind me.
I slid down the length of it.
Today... was crazy.
But I came out of it alive.
Barely breathing, but still alive.
I stood up from the floor and put my backpack on the glass desk in the entrance.
I tossed a piece of my hair on the other side.
I looked in the mirror, the one above the glass top.
I looked like I needed a good self-care time.
I turn my head around and found the two arrows pointing at 5:30.
Ok.. if I calculated correctly, I got three hours before Dad comes back.
I went into my room and took a long hot shower.
And enjoyed every second of it.
I changed into grey sweatpants with an oversized sweater that had cupcakes are muffins who believed in miracles written on it.
I made myself dinner, plopped a mask on my face and turned on the tv.
After browsing for some chick-flicks and not finding one that I wanted to watch, I decided to put on a movie I have already watched.
More than 10 times already.
Typical me.
Whatever.
With the sandwich in hand and the warm tea in the other, I made myself comfortable on the couch.
I had a blanket over me, covering my entire body.
I probably looked like a scarier version of a nun with the mask on my face.
I dozed off ten minutes later.
~
I woke up to a knock on the door.
And I started choking on the spreadsheet that somehow ended up in my mouth.
I took it off and cringed.
Good job, Aria!!
I put it on the plate.
I stood up from the couch, the blanket still on my shoulders.
I opened the door and my eyes met Peter's.
" Peter? What are you doing here?" I asked.
His blue eyes filled with guilt.
" I'm sorry."
My eyebrows furrowed.
" For what." My voice was still raspy from sleep.
I cleared my throat.
" For supporting what Doctor Shaun did." he looked up from the ground.
" Oh."
The memories flashed back.
Him in pain. Him clenching his teeth in agony. The soft smile he sent me as if to reassure me, before passing out.
" I know you have this weird connection with him which makes it worse for you, but it still horrible to put ... whatever he is in pain."
I nodded.
" Am I forgiven?"
I looked up and was met with a look full of regret and hope.
" Yeah," I said finally.
" Are you okay?" he asked me.
I let out a laugh with no humor.
" No. My life is a mess right now." I said.
He crushed me into a hug.
"And I'm also sorry for not being there for you. I can't imagine what you are feeling now."
I sighed.
It felt nice to finally hug my best friend.
Peter let go.
"Come on in," I started, " join my movie marathon."
He smiled and walked in.
" So what are we watching?" he asked and plopped down on the couch.
But that was my spot...
" I don't know, have any suggestions?" I plopped down right next to him.
I gave him the remote and he put a random movie.
We watched the movies, and in the middle of the second one, Dad came in.
" Hey, Dad," I said and stood up from the couch to hug him.
" Hey, honey." He said in the embrace.
" Hey bud, how are you? It's been a while." My dad said to Peter.
" I'm good, John. How about you?" Peter asked.
They had a quick chat and then we all watched the rest of the movie.
Peter left, and Dad went to bed.
I was still downstairs, getting a glass of water.
I turned off the lights and went upstairs.
I walked into my room and turned on the lights.
And I was met with someone I thought I would never see there.
The same midnight hair that shined in the light, the sunkissed skin, the beautiful yet unusual eyes.
The merman was in my room.
Except for the tail, his tail wasn't there and was replaced with legs.
I shrieked and got the nearest object in my hands as a weapon.
And that object ended up being a pencil from my desk.
Geez, Aria, that will SURELY do some harm.
His head turned around and his eyes met mine.
" What the hell are you doing here!?" I screamed out.
He straightened up from his arched position and I noticed how tall he actually was.
Much taller than my 5 foot 7 frame.
He looked at the pencil I had in my hand, pointed at him in a threatening matter, and he had the decency to form an amused smirk on his face.
" A pencil, really?"
and im back!!!
anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter and don't forget to vote and comment on your favorite parts. there are almost four hundred of you guys who actually enjoy my crap, and for that, you deserve a THANK YOU.
i love you all!!