The Sea Hears, Rán Takes

The storm had already torn the night apart. The deck shook beneath me, ropes screamed, water struck hard against the hull. I stood there, soaked through, staring into the waves.

One of the men shouted from across the deck, his voice cracking through the wind. 

“Go back to your cabin, Miss!” He stepped carefully towards me, but the storm dragged him back to his work.

He didn’t wait to see if I moved. I didn’t. I held the rail tighter and let the spray sting my eyes.

The sea rose and fell like a chest straining for breath. I thought of how simple it would be to let go here, how easy to give myself to the dark water. No one would know what lived in me then. No one would see how ready I was. 

I stared at the dark water. What does it feel like to let yourself be carried away by the depths? Everything must be so calm, so peaceful. I guessed the deep sea takes away both your sadness and your loss. A tear slid down my cheek. I felt it, but it was erased at once by another spray from the raging sea.

I sighed. A life without my dear love seemed unbearable; the pain in my heart was too strong. Each day felt like a fight against life itself. Maybe I should simply let myself slip over the side, I thought. Nobody would notice in such darkness. 

The boat pitched without warning, tilting hard. My feet slid. My hands lost hold. My heart stopped for one second as I caught the trail. My fingers clutched tighter, my nails biting into the wood. My heartbeat roared in my ears. I smirked nervously. Sometimes you must be careful what you wish for, someone might grant it. I smiled at the irony. 

The boat pitched again, harder. I was gone, over the side.

Cold cut through me. The air tore from my throat. Suddenly, I didn’t want to die anymore. I surfaced once, gasping, then a wave buried me again. The pain was unbearable. I realised, painfully, that I had never truly fought against real pain before. I trashed between walls of water, mouth straining for air, but every swallow burned. And this battle was real. I was nothing against the storm.

I begged for someone to see me. I lifted my arm, weak as it was. On deck, the men ran, shouting, fixing the sails. One turned. His face flashed white in the lightning. My hand reached for him, trembling. He looked past me, then was gone.

My strength broke. I let go. The sea dragged me down, pressing me deeper. Above me, the storm rolled like iron, but down here there was only silence. 

I sank slowly, as though gathered. I was true for one thing: the deep sea takes everything with it. The loss, the sadness. Every part of yourself slowly evaporates from your body until only your soul remains.
The dark thickened. My chest heaved, and peace, for the first time in so long, settled over my mind. I knew my last breath was coming.

And then, when everything was about to end, I saw the light, faint but real. My vision blurred. I didn’t see my life unfurl in my head, as they said, but I did see the light. I lifted my arm toward it with confidence. But as my vision cleared, I trembled. There was no light. I frowned. A woman’s form stood before me. Her long hair streamed like a golden veil through the black. Her pale skin glimmered with silver, as though scales lay hidden beneath. Her eyes were blank white. A net floated behind her like a torn cape.

The glow surrounded her. I couldn’t tell if it was real or the madness of my fading mind. My breath slipped from me, and I felt myself drawn toward her, as if the sea had chosen to deliver me into her arms.

She carefully wrapped me in her net and rocked me in her arms like a child. 

“Wish lightly, for the sea grants with cruelty.”