She closed her eyes and inhaled deeply, but she still felt the annoyance that tingled at the back of her head, ready to attack. She should have been used to this by now. Any normal person would have been used to this by now. But she wasn't normal.
Michiru ran her fingers through her wavy locks and sighed deeply, hoping someone would take notice. Of course, nobody did. At last, she slammed shut her sketchbook and stood up from her seat, the chair wobbling in place she left.
Today she'll just go home, and relax. If that was possible – or maybe she could stop by the café on her way and finish some sketches? Her mind wondered aimlessly as she took out her subway card, walking through crowds of people of all ages and gender and looks. She stood out among them, she always did. Slender at a medium height, with her long, dark wavy hair half up, and her youthful, flawless face staring emptily into space whilst everyone around her chatted or laughed animatedly, Michiru felt pretty much alone. Besides, the subway air was excruciatingly painful to breathe, mixed with dirty underground air with smoke and dusty substance that lingered in the background. Wrenching her nose, Michiru wrapped her scarf around her more tightly, balancing to hold her purse and bag without dropping them.
Finally, the train arrived. Patiently Michiru hopped in after letting a few eager get-goers and elderly through. As usual, the train was packed with passengers, and Michiru walked near to the door and stared at her reflection in the windows, trying to ignore the uncomfortable close proximity of others near her. She thought about her lonely shell cottage on the bank of the vast ocean – her only house, her resort to happiness and her escape from reality. Finally, she had her own place, and she could do whatever she wished to do. She thought of the huge aquarium surrounding the walls, and reminded herself to feed the fish immediately after. Then she'll kick off her sandals and go to the ocean, dip her feet inside, and nobody will reach her in that silence and privacy of pure heaven.
These thoughts filled her mind, until the haste stop of the train made her and the rest of the passengers jerk to their right. Michiru found balance, but was attacked with a sheer annoyance when the less agile and clumsier man accidentally bumped into her, without muttering an apology.
Just ignore….she thought. Two more stops.
After a tense moment of breathing in people's scent, Michiru was free from the train. She walked up the stairs, eager to see the dark sky and stars glittering among them, to find her own set of happiness and peace.
From there, she walked alone. Less people were nearby as she walked deeper away from the city, and at last her true love – the dark, mystic pool of ocean, greeted her.
She smiled, remembering why she still was alive. Without this, she thought, admiring the beauty of the sea, I would die. Surely.
She walked and walked, passing a few couples and cozy shops and restaurants nearby. Then she saw her lonely shell cottage, miles away from rest of the world, placed on the tip of the land, as if it sat directly on top of the ocean.
At last, nobody was nearby, and she breathed peacefully. She entered through her private gate with her keys, and unlocked the door in few seconds. And she was home.
The familiar scent of her house greeted her, with warm fireplace barely cackling near the sofa. Her giant aquarium was blue and shining with beauty, with her tropical fish swimming amongst themselves peacefully, without noise.
"Hello" she said sweetly at them, grabbing their can of food. The swarmed beautifully towards her, as she hand fed them, her smooth, slender fingers dipping into their cool salt water, the fish recognized Michiru immediately.
"Did you miss me?" she asked, smiling at them. "I missed you guys terribly." She swirled her index finger teasingly around the small yellow fish, which played along with her.
Michiru laughed. Oh how she loved playing with them! So beautiful and peaceful, they were the perfect creatures.
She sat and watched them for a while, as they played and ate their food and swam flawlessly through the water, creating air bubbles in place.
"You know, it's been a while since I swam like that." She murmured, sighing. She got up and walked towards the huge window that opened towards the ocean, which now glimmered under the white moon. "too long, actually." She said nonchalantly, and she took off her scarf and earrings.
She walked towards the water, and shed the rest of her clothes. This is what she loved about her house, it was private, nobody could see her. She certainly did not mind being alone.
She plunged into the water, and gasped at how cool and amazing the water felt against her weary skin. She dove underwater and swam, exploring the mysterious ocean, which she felt no stranger to, and she felt home. This is where she belonged.
Ah, only if she could grow fins! She thought, as she lay against the cool water and stared up at the sky. In the distance, she heard cries of whales, and she closed her eyes. This was enriching her inner life, and she felt heaven.
After a few more swimming, Michiru was back on land, water dripping from her body and wet hair. She grabbed her clothes and walked through the cool sand, back at her house.
Looking at her pile of books, she sighed, remembering she had homework and exams to study for. She walked up stairs into a hot shower, rather quickly, and brushed her hair, numbly staring at herself in the mirror.
Her face was doubtless lovely. Perhaps that was an understatement, but she was beautiful. Michiru knew she was beautiful, with her almond shaped eyes the shade of dark ocean at night, her small nose and luscious lips, she wondered why she was alone.
Not friends – she gave up on those long time ago, but she wanted someone special. Her other half. Her soulmate maybe.
She knew to most people, she came across as cold and somewhat shy, proud in her multiple talents and her looks. She had somewhat a brisk manner, and she disliked small talks. She kept herself very private, and she rarely went out drinking or to clubs with her fellow classmates. She knew what she liked, she knew her what things made her happy. And partying was not one of them.
But she didn't care, she was happy in her own world, though may seem strange to others. She was perfectly fine living alone. She never got along too well with her parents, whom she felt were too insensitive and rather boisterous for her liking. It was her biggest happiness she was finally able to afford a place of her own, in her own dream land.
She placed her brush down, curling her wet hair between her fingers, she slipped into her robes and sat on her sofa, with her half-done painting of the Ocean king, Poseidon.
Homework can wait, she thought. The material was easy anyway.