It was always about the sea. There was no other place she could feel at peace. No scolding adults, no high-pitched laughter, no one to disturb her thoughts. Only the breeze and the steady crashing of water on stone. And some seagulls.
At times like these, Lyra spend every possible minute on the beach. She either collected seashells to make pendants out of them or simply sat down and let her bare feet soak up the wet sand. This time, she shouted. She yelled at the sea as if she could throw all of her problems away along with her breath. She didn't expect the sea to respond, she never did. It just swallowed all of her anger and sadness and stayed silent. Yes, water really is the best listener.
After her scream died off and the echo was already miles away, she sat down, pulled her legs closer to her and hid her face between her knees. Tears where forming in her eyes and rolled down until the drops hit the fabric of her dress. Everything was silent besides the squawking of the seagulls on the shores, the waves and a low giggle.
Wait, what? A giggle? The sea doesn't laugh! That must be-!
The realization made her spin her head in all directions just to see that there was nothing. Nothing but sand, stone and the sea.
„Must've been some seagulls..." She wiped a tear away after she settled back on the sand.
„Nope, not really."
No, that was a voice! Someone watched her! She stood up this time and tried to look for the guy disturbing her alone-time. He'd get a beating if she'd find him.
„Where are you? Show yourself!"
But not a single stone moved. Even the sea seemed to ease its breathing. Lyra stopped searching for something that probably wasn't even here. She let her shoulders fall in resignation and sighed. The stress must be playing tricks on her mind now.
With a muffled thud she resumed her previous position and stared at the endless water shining in the afternoon sun. Silence coated her again.
„That was a pretty awesome scream just now. You've got good lungs." The voice surprised her yet again and she looked for its source despite knowing there was nothing.
„That's not where I am." The voice giggled again. Lyra looked back at the sea and came to a conclusion.
„Oh no, don't tell me the sea is talking to me now. I must be going crazy."
„You're almost right, but I'm not the sea."
„Then where are you?! And who are you?!" She stood up again in a panic and was getting angrier. At the person she was hearing, for not showing himself and at herself, for actually responding to something that might not even be there.
„I-I can't tell you." The teasing voice started to sound a little shy now.
„Don't screw with me! You know, it's not polite to talk to somebody like that. Show yourself!"
No response. Lyra waited a few more seconds before she let herself fall into the sand again.
„I must be really going crazy, I'm already talking to myself now..."
For some reason, she wanted to hear the voice again. Next to its teasing it sounded very soothing. Like someone she could talk to for ages. Just like the sea, rough, strong and calming.
„Why are you crying?" There it was again.
„That's none of your business."
„Maybe, but I can't see a pretty girl like you cry. I want to cheer you up."
„Tch, what would you gain from cheering me up?"
„I'd see your smile."
Lyra stopped responding to this, ignoring the slight heat that was rising in her cheeks. She thought of actually telling him her story. What would she have to lose?
„It's about my parents..."
„What about them?"
„They're always telling me what to do, what to think. I don't have any word in stuff that concerns me! I have my own opinion!"
„Why don't you just tell them?"
„I've already tried. Several times. But they don't listen to me! 'It's for the good of the family' they say."
„Well, if it's for something good, why are you going against it?"
„Because they don't even consider what I think! They treat me like property! Not a human! Argh, why am I even talking to you? You're just a voice in my head, you wouldn't understand."
„You're right. I don't understand. So please, explain."
„What's there to explain? It's a typical parents-daughter conflict."
„What is typical parents-daughter conflict?"
„How dumb are you?!"
„I'm not dumb. I'm just not accostumed to human society."
„What?"
„You see, I'm..." The voice stopped mid-sentence, as if it was thinking carefully about what it said next.
„I'm not human."
„I guessed as much. You're just a voice in my head, so you're nothing more than a hallucination."
„No! I really exist! I just-"
„Then show yourself already." This was getting old, Lyra didn't even care about sounding annoyed anymore.
„Promise you won't freak out."
„I'll think about it. Once I see you."
„No. You have to promise me now."
She sighed. „Okay, okay, I promise."
The voice stayed quite for a while and nothing but the sea moved. And then, there was a light splashing in the direction the voice came from. She expected pretty much anything, a hideous man, a creepy old guy, even a talking animal would be fine! But that was...
Realization hit her like a rock her size and she jumped on her feet. Her legs were almost giving up the moment they hit the ground, but the fear made her body too tense. She was about to run away, but the...creature in front of her held out a hand to calm her.
„Wait, wait! You said you wouldn't freak out!"
„B-but, you're a...a merman!"
