I open my eyes to the bright morning sunlight.
I sit up and stretch my arms over my head, the cracking is a welcoming relief.
Grabbing dressing down off the side i journey to the living room to check on how my guest is.
I walk into the room and of course
He's gone.
The blanket I used to cover him had been fouled and placed on the table along with the pillow which has been fluffed.
At least he's clean.
There is a small note on top.
Hesitantly I reach over to grab it.
Miss Hallie
Thank you for your assistance, however I can manage from here, I will use your keys to lock up behind me then slide the keys through the letter box.
Jefferson
I look over to the door and true to his word my keys are laying on the floor by my door.
Humph, he couldn't even bother to wait until I woke up.
Fine.
I don't know why it bothers me so much but there you are.
I look at the clock.
It's already 8:30 theres noway I'm going to be able to get to school in time.
I pick up the phone and dial the number.
I know I shouldn't do this but I really don't feel like i can teach today, I'm just so tired and unfocused.
In fact lately it's gotten really bad, I'm so tired all the time, I mean their are days were I can barley find the energy to get out of bed.
"Good morning storybooke middle school."
"Hi Joan its Hallie."
"Morning Hallie, is everything okay."
"I'm not feeling to good today, I been sick and I'm just feeling all around dizzy."
I know what your thinking.
But I'm really not feeling well, and I have been suffering from nausea, in fact over the last few days it's been really bad.
If it keeps going like this I'm going to the hospital.
"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that,I'll put it down that your sick and I'll have Miss Blanchard cover your lessons though maybe you should consider getting checked up, this is the 3rd time this month you've called in sick and I'm giving you a heads up, your attendance issues have started you grace attention from the principal."
"Okay I promise to get my act together, Thank you."
I hang up.
And let out a sigh.
Great, that's all I need.
I know that everyone it counting on me; the school, my students, the studio, Monique, my dance students, Paige.
I just don't know how I'm going to do everything.
A yawn escapes me, well I might as well head on back to bed which is exactly what I do.
I wrap myself back in my quilts and drift off.
"Arista hurry up!"
"Arista he'll catch you!"
I follow the retreating forms of Aquata and Alana, my tail struggling to keep up.
"I'm coming!"
My sisters forms quickly fade away, I flip my tail faster and pick up speed.
But it's not enough.
I can feel the approaching looming presence making strides.
It becomes clear I can't beat him on speed alone.
I have to be smart.
In my peripheral vision I spot a cluster of coral and rock in a twisting and twirling formation.
My trailer would never be able to fit.
It's my best shot.
I twist my body in a 130 angle taking my trailer by surprise.
It's just enough time for me to disappear into the formation.
The bends and turns are sharp and demanding.
Though my little body can manoeuvre them.
I emerge from the other side.
All around me there is ocean.
My assailant nowhere in sight.
Maybe he went after Aquata and Alana.
I lower my guard.
Strong arms wrap around me and pull me to a broad chest.
"Did you really think you could get away that easily."
Fingers mercilessly tickle my sides.
I let out a laugh, trying to pull away.
"Stop it! Please."
The strong arms let me go and I turn to face the mischievous twinkling eyes of my father.
My father turns stern though the twinkle in his eyes betray in false persuade.
"Now playtime is over, it's time to go to bed, your mother is already waiting for you with the rest of your sisters, the palace guards have by now caught your sisters."
Knowing there is no way to getting out of this I grab into my father outstretched hand.
We begin the slow journey home.
The light is fading fast and the sun sets and the moon takes its place.
The usual bright oranges, pinks and reds of corals have dulled.
I spot my friend Pearl we share a wave before she too is ushered inside her house by her mother.
We swim though the glistening corridors of the palace.
To my left I spot the red shell of a familiar chief of staff and occasional Au Pair.
"Sebastian!"
The crab turns.
"Your majesty, princess."
My father acknowledged the family friend.
"Good evening Sebastian."
He pulls me along and towards my bedroom.
Multiple voices can be heard from inside.
Father pulls back the curtains to ravel mother perched on the edge of attina's shell bed.
My youngest sister Ariel is perched on her lap as my mother combs her fingers through Ariels soft locks.
The rest of them including Aquata and Alana are tucked into bed.
Mother is on the middle of singing.
For the waves roll low
And the waves roll high and so it goes
Under the bright blue
Endless Sky
Waves try to measure
The days that we treasure
Wave hello
And wave goodbye
Once mother Finnishes her song she placed a sleeping Ariel on her bed before she swims over to my bed and places a kiss on my head.
"Goodnight my loves."
The memories ripples away suddenly I'm transported to the lagoon.
The sun was shining, Merfolk were playing their instruments and singing, me and my sister my Playing chase with other children.
"You can't catch me Arista." Attina shouts before swimming away.
We'll see about that.
With all my might I swim and reach out and tag her.
"Looks like your it now Attina." I laugh before swimming away.
We must of been playing for hours though our fun would be interrupted by slience.
The music stopped, there were gasps of fright.
Adella and Andrina were faceing something behind me, matching fear marred their usual joyous faces.
Slowly I turn around.
What I spot coming toward us, makes my heart stop.
My voice catches in my throat.
I can't speak.
A Huge ship is coming straight towards us, I can hear the jeers from the occupants aboard.
"Captain look, mermaids."
"Well then looks like we're having fish stew tonight."
The laughter gets louder.
A moment of shock passes through everyone at the lagoon before panic ensures.
"GO!" My fathers frantic voice calls out.
My fathers words were like a slap.
Screams and yells of my fellow merfolk can be heard, everyone diving into the water, parents clutching their young one's.
"Arista we have to go!"
Attina's voice pulls pulls me out of my shock.
She yanks me down.
Suddenly my adrenaline kicks in and a move my tail faster than I've ever done in my life, desperate to get away the rest do my sister follow my lead.
Then a panic stricken voice stops me and my sister dead in our tracks.
"Athena!"
The seven of us turn to see our mother on the rocks of the lagoon as the scary ship crashes.
"No!" My father yells.
He frantically swims toward the surface desperate to reach mom.
My sister and I can only watch in horror as father cradles my mother's lifeless form.
Ariel begins to cry which sets of the rest of us, soon the seven of us are crying.
I try to swim to my mother but a pair of arms wrap themselves around me.
The familiar soothing voice of pearls mother consumes me.
She pulls to her chest and holds me as I sob.
"It's going to be okay Arista, let's get you home." She gently pulls me away from the scene of death.
"No I want my mommy!" Attina is screaming while trying to escape the arms of one of the palace guards.
I being to yells with my sister, we cry out for our mother.
"No! Mom!"
"Let me go!"
'Mom!"
"Mom!"
I open my eyes and shoot up out of bed.
Tears are streaming down my face, my vision is colluded my unshed tears.
I'm sweating, my pyjamas are stuck to my shaking form.
My heart feels like it's about to beat out of my chest.
I can't breath.
Why can't I breath!
I just sit upright on my bed crying, shaking, hyperventilating.
I'm going to be sick.
I grab the bin I kept by my bead and hacked up the contents of my stomach.
Trying to remember what Dr hopper taught me to do when I have panic attacks.
"Breath in and out Arista, 5 seconds in, 5 seconds out."
I breath in.
8 seconds.
I breath out
8 seconds.
I Breath in.
8 seconds.
I breath out.
8 seconds.
My breathing is starting to slow.
My heartbeat on slowing.
Breath in
8 seconds.
Breath out
8 seconds.
I start to gather my bearings.
I lay back down on the damp bed.
It's been years since my last panic attack.
And it's always after I wake up from that dream.
It's not the first time I've been plagued by dreams of me as a mermaid watching my mother be killed right in front of me.
Maybe I should book an appointment with dr hopper.
It couldn't hurt.
I'm interrupted from my thoughts by the knocking at my door.
I reach for my dressing gown before venturing to see who would bother me at.
I look at my clock.
6:30 pm
Shit, I slept through the whole day.
I open my door to be greeted by Mary Margaret.
She is holding a circular container.
"Hey how are you feeling?"
Why would she be..?
Oh! of course.
that heavens I look like death warmed up from my episode earlier.
"I'm feeling a little better."
Mary Margaret smiles holds out the steaming container.
"I made you some chicken soup, it's supposed to help."
She offers me the container, which I accept.
It's still warm.
"Well I've got to finish helping Emma move in."
Emma?
The woman from the diner?
Snow must notice my confusion she begins to explain.
Apparently this Emma is Henry Mills birth mother, Mary explained how Henry went to Boston to find her.
Wow, did not expect that.
Regina must be pulling her hair out, it's no secret she like order.
Snow then goes on to tell me how Regina threatened Emma and got her arrested.
Typical Regina move.
Then Mary went on to explain how she offers to let Emma live with her, since Regina got her kicked out of granny B .
So now Emma is living with Mary Margaret.
My god I only spoke to Mary like 4 days ago, your would think it had been a week from everything she told me.
But I was right.
Emma Swan you certainly know how to make a statement.
I think storybrooke just got far more interesting.