Small light flickered down past the water as yet again Saoirse became a leader of sorts of the seals.

The ocean became a sea of darkness and of light, vibrant color, and dull, dull dark.

Saoirse felt alive surrounded by seals, felt alive with a tail guiding her along and through the smooth water.

Every brush, every push back, lit up a sense of adventure, a sense of belonging within the deep, but it wasn't quite like her family.

Her mother's soft and gentle hands, her brother's bickering, and her dad's once quiet sadness that became a kind of distant comfort to him once they discovered that her mother's still alive.

Her family wasn't perfect, but she doubted anyone's was.

She peeked her eyes open, snug in bed, and while her warm bed was not like the sea, neither was it unwelcome.

"Ben, you up?" She murmured, voice still drowsy from her part dream, part memory.

"Mmm..." Was the best answer she got, but it was enough as Saoirse went back to sleep amid past longing that wasn't nearly as good as the present joy and comfort of being with those she loved.