text: A young girl has spent her whole life by the sea. It's her escape, her safety. The briny scent of the saltwater on her skin reminds her there *is* a place of serenity, away from her turbulent home life. At home, there is no peace, no goodness anymore. The violent outbursts from her parents only ever ended with her running out of the house and towards the shoreline some few miles out. They never bothered to follow her. Neither of the two whiskey-soaked drunkards cared enough to ensure she wasn't swept away by the midnight currents. Sometimes she prayed the currents would do exactly that. The warm embrace of the water always took her into its arms when she needed release. She would dip her head below the water's surface and swim downward, deep towards the coral closest to the surface. There, through burning eyes, she would watch the tranquil sea life, wishing she could stay there forever. The sea does not take lightly to wishes made by the reefs. As the girl swims upward on one fateful, early dawn, she finds herself unable to break through the surface of the water. *Don't panic,* she tells herself, floating backwards for a moment. *It's just a passing wave.* She reaches a hand towards the surface and seems to break it at first, but soon she realizes she has not actually parted from the water. Though her hand rises above the surface level, the velvety, cool liquid encases each of her digits. She hastily retracts her hand back to herself, eyes widening in bewilderment. "Child," a voice hums from seemingly nowhere and everywhere at once. The girl swerves her head around, twisting her body in the water to search for the source. "Do not be afraid," the low, silken voice croons to her again, "You are safe here now." The maternal voice reverberates through her chest, sending warmth through her cold body. "Take in a breath, young one," the voice gently urges. The girl furrows her brows. She knows she cannot breathe water, that's a promise of death to a delicate human as herself. "You are now as much of the ocean as the sea life flowing around you. Breathe it in, it is now your life as well," the voice echoes, refilling the warmth in the girl's body. With wavering confidence, she finally complies, inhaling the saltwater and letting it fill her lungs. The unfamiliar discomfort dispels quickly, along with the usual burning in her eyes. The girl looks around with a new clarity, and her mouth falls slack in awe at what she sees. The colors are brighter now, and the glint of the rising sun reflects like mirrors off of thousands of flittering scales. The vividness of it all is almost dizzying, and the girl wonders briefly if she has died and crossed into the afterlife. "This is *yours* now, little one. I will keep you safe here for as long as you wish to stay. Should you ever want to go, the many shorelines will wait for your footsteps in the sand," the voice says cautiously, "My waters are always open for your return, and we will welcome you with love for eternity." The girl struggles to wrap her head around how she's crying underwater, but happy sobs do still manage to break free from her small frame. They say home is where your heart is, and her heart certainly belongs to the sea. *She is home.