The Secrets of Aquamarine Bay
By Sean C. Wright-Neeley
“Come closer, dear. I want to tell you something,” Azul said weakly. She lay on a bed of kelp with her long hair fanned around her. It was cerulean with equal parts gray.
Coral complied, sitting at her grandmother’s bedside with misty eyes. She had Azul’s indomitable spirit and her cyan hair, but hers was cut with sea foam highlights. Coral took her grandmother’s hand, and listened.
70 Years Ago
“I’m telling you, father, they exist,” Azul insisted over lobster dinner one night.
“You may be right, my dear scallop,” he remarked, “but stating that outside our home will get you jailed.”
Her mother had only chewed nervously, and offered her more lobster and stuffed crab.
Azul would never dare tell her family what she had found on her after-school excursions, in the forbidden area. Vessel wreckage, coins, jewelry, and even skeletons.
It was a beautiful day the first time Azul did the unthinkable. She emerged from the surface, and looked around. The unexpected weight of the air was a shock, but she found it delicious to feel the sun on her face. Gulls cawed above her head. She smiled up at them, and slipped back below. It was like a drug. Azul found herself going to the surface at least twice a week; sometimes for seconds, sometimes for minutes. A secret she locked up in her three hearts that beat with defiance behind her ropes of starfish, pearls, and seashells.
One day, Azul said goodnight to her family around dusk, feigning illness. As soon as she was able, she slipped away, resolving to watch the sun set above the surface. Azul found a flat, sound rock, and slipped onto it. It was as beautiful as she had imagined. The sun looked like a vast, neon ball on the horizon. The sky turned lavender, and soon salted with intermittent twinkles. The peace was arresting, and Azul sang softly to herself, under her breath. She upturned her face to get the balmy breeze’s full effect. She didn’t notice what came next until it was too late.
A ship.
It was so close that Azul could hear the breeze, socking its sails. Transfixed, she watched as a shadowy figure turned in her direction, and put a pair of cylindrical devices up to its eyes. Something told her to hide her face behind the curtain of her blue, waist-length hair, but Azul still couldn’t move. She was as curious about the creature, as it was about her. She squinted into the failing sunlight. A human. It had male energy. Her loins stirred. The figure dropped the looking device, and continued to stare in her direction. His mannerisms suggested mutual shock and fascination – even from afar. He took something off his head, ran his hands through his hair, and must have called to someone else on the vessel to come look through the device because someone else appeared, and took them. Azul got her wits about her before the other male human could fully get the device to his eyes, and slipped off the rock. She swam away as fast as her caudal fin could carry her. Her green blood, pulsing in her ears…
“Humans do exist, child. I saw two when I was about your age with my own eyes. Don’t tell anyone about this, or they will put you away. But I encourage you to think for yourself. That’s all, dear. And promise you’ll bury me in my necklaces…”
Coral patted her grandmother’s gnarled hand, musing. Was this true, or was it elderly dementia? But Azul had sounded so lucid, and had never lied to her before. “I promise, grandma,” was all Coral could say.
*****
An old sailor lay on his deathbed on dry land. After he asked for water, he spoke to his son in a hoarse whisper. “I have to tell you something I never told anyone, son. I saw a mermaid once at Aquamarine Bay when I was in the navy…”
I’m pleased to announce the release of my 8th book, Skoll’s Diary.
Africans and African Americans left Earth in 1900, and went to another planet in The Milky Way to escape mistreatment…
It’s now the year 3005 on that terraformed planet. We get a peek into the life of a bright and sensitive teenaged boy, Skoll, through his journal. He loves his world, but is curious about life on Earth. Then suddenly, an epic event casts him in the middle of a difficult decision. The fate of the planet’s community is in his hands.
Get the book here. I’d appreciate your leaving a review if you read it. Thanks in advance!
Seanarchy 