My grandfather never fully recovered from my grandmother's loss. He spent so many days walking the shoreline, hoping his wife would return to him. He died in his early 70s. A fall down the stairs is what did it.
Honestly, his death was a blessing. He was spending more and more days staring out at the waves. Watching him deteriorate broke my mother's heart. And a few months after his death, I finally felt I was ready to venture out into the ocean.
"I wish I could go with you, baby," my mother said, stroking my hair softly.
"I know Mama, and maybe someday you will," I squeezed the hand that rested on my shoulder.
"We can dream," she smiled sadly at me. "Now enjoy yourself, and remember to guard your skin closely. You don't want to end up like your grandmother." The unspoken 'or me' hung in the air.
I did my best to change the subject, "any requests on souvenirs? Your siblings have all requests bits from the bottom of the sea."
"My only request is that you return to me safely. You are my light, Elora. I love you."
"I love you too, Mom. I'll be back before you know it."
She did her best to hide it but I saw the skepticism in my mother's eyes. Selkies rarely returned to land once they've rejoined the ocean, but Selkies were rarely 2nd generation raised on land either.
I embraced my mother one last time, for her this was goodbye, but I knew I'd see her again soon. With a final smile I ran towards the edge of the cliff and dove into the icy water.
The rush of the water thrilled me as I wrapped myself in my seal skin. I was transformed from a lithe, black haired beauty into a deep grey seal with amber eyes. My tall, thin form was now compact and round. I reveled in my beauty.
I had swam in my seal form before, always staying close to shore at my mother's behest. When I reached the farthest point I'd ever swam I turned back to see the figure of my mother. Her silouhette was a speck against the setting sun. I leapt from the water sending a final wave and darted off.
Waves crashed over me. Swimming had always filled me with euphoria but it had never felt like this before. It felt as though the sea had its own heart that was beating in time with my own. I felt all the life in the ocean, joy of a newborn fish emerging from it's egg, fear from prey, and anticipation from the shark that stalked it. I was connected with everything the water touched. After several minutes a calm finally settled over me. I truly felt like I was home.
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