MUTE

Breathe
MereImage

Exhale

Inhale

Exhale

Inhale.

…….

…….

…….

Breathe…..

"……."

I took a step. A step outside the confinements of this overgrown shelter.

A step outside for the first time in three weeks.

I paused, looking around at the world I missed. I needed to break free from the Raven's cage…just for a day. I walked down all 13 staircases, step-by-step. I had never done it before. I felt strangely regenerated…

My face relaxed, shoulders held back, and I walked.

The crunch of gravel met my ears, tuning everything else out. My feet carried me to the water, where the brink of two worlds collided.

I looked at my reflection and pulled back my hood. My hand stroked my face, fingers gliding smoothly along my jaw. I broke the connection, pulling my gaze away from my reflection, trying to brush the tears from my eyes.

I collapsed down on the sand, hands reaching for the laces of my shoes.

I pulled off my shoes, Socks. My cloak stayed on. I wiggled my toes with a personality most unlike my own.

All that was needed to complete the moment was for the Little Mermaid to pop up and coax me into song.

I waded into the water, wincing at the icy touch. I stood and dove.

With the water surrounding me, it felt like nothing could break me, my body as light as the sky itself. I plunged my entire body into the surf, resting, floating. I almost forgot to breathe.

I rose to the surface, drawing a breath, only to realize I was 50ft from the shore.

I frowned.

And inexplicitly, I was yanked down below, only able to gasp for one last breath.

I must have passed out for a few seconds. I was so deep that I had to squint my eyes in order to see my hand directly in front of me.

More air bubbles escaped my lips as I sunk deeper, like a dead weight.

I've never panicked much in my life. It involved too many emotions. But now, as my lungs began to collapse, I was frantically swinging my arms trying to rise. To reach the boundary of life.

But something was holding me down….

I yanked my hefty cloak from my figure, feeling more mobility to rise. I never watched it sink to the depths of the darkest corners.

My lips parted, spots appearing before my vision.

I wasn't thinking about anything, only my shire determination to rise.

20 more feet…

My arms were growing limper.

15 feet…

I couldn't feel my legs.

10 feet….

My mouth clamped shut, my eyes shone, and-

Sloooooooosh!

My head and hair whipped back as I gasped for breath. My lungs heaved with deprivation, punishing me for my maltreatment.

I waded in the water, waiting for my heart to stop hammering against my chest.

When it never did, I slowly began making my way to shore.

Making my way...

…

…

….Home.

…………………………………………………………………………..

"Yo Raven! Where ya been?" Cy smirked in my direction, one hand slung over the couch, the other grasping the remote.

I continued walking, pointing at my cloths. My leotard was dripping, my hairs on end from the cold. I hugged myself.

"Swimming? It's like 2 AM in the morning!" A temple throbbed on my forehead as I pointed accusatorily in his direction.

"Oh, me?" he chuckled. "I'm always up this early. Only needed to recharge for a few hours."

He turned back towards the TV, channel surfing.

"You do realize we have a pool, don't ya Rae?" no response.

He turned.

"Raven?"

I had gone. He sighed.

"Dark and mysterious, the never changing aspects of Raven."

In the shadows, I stirred.

…………………………………………………………………………………..

I held the object in my hands with mild interest.

A diary.

I opened the front cover. Blank.

I sat in the closed off the room. The one we were all suppose to be forgetting. The view outside was gradually growing lighter shinning a few weak rays into the area.

I stroked the soft sheets.

Everything else in the room was bare. Naturally, it was Terra's.

I grabbed a brush lying beside me. Still cloakless, I grabbed an arrangement of paints.

Sure, I could write. It went along with my passion of reading. I could write, but I never wanted to. It brings me remembrance of the darker times, keeping a diary. Hiding your secrets-

I winced,

your thoughts. Shielding them from the outside world. Forging mixed meanings between the lines of an imaginary device. Laying down your soul where anything could find it. Even darkness. Writing… it just wasn't the same as…

I dipped it gracefully into the colors.

And lay a yellow stroke on the paper. I bit my tongue in concentration, focused entirely on the piece before me.

As I began to paint a picture back to life,

I breathed,

No strings attached.