Abigail's New Start

What am I even doing.

  Deep breath Abigail, it is all going to be ok just put one foot in front of the other and start your day, I say to myself it is the first day to start classes and I'm not quite sure I am ready to do this.  I was far from ready if I'm being completely honest but I had no choice today was the day to dive headfirst and begin this new chapter, or so I keep telling myself.

 I rush to first period right as the bell rings with Brittany following close behind me we just were able to slide through as the teacher shuts the door. "You both were almost late this isn't how you start the new school year. Take a seat in the back and don't make a peep "he barked at us. The class snickers as a response.  The teacher gives them a look to silence them, "Hello students, I'm Mr. Matthew your English teacher. I hope this year will be full of learning, but also a little fun. With that said it's time for your first daily assignment", the class groans." I want each of you to write a poem describing who you are it can be in any form of poetry, I just want to learn more about you, it is due by the end of class," said Mr. Matthews.

    I sit there for a few minutes just staring at the page. What do I write about? Until two days ago I thought I was a totally different person.  

                                                           Alone

 It's fall, the trees are changing color, the grass has a crunch to it in the early morning, with a little nip in the air. Everything stands still, as the loneliness eats away at me, but I have no fear. 

The deer dart across the road, but stops long enough to gaze into my eyes to say they are here too. I bundle up tighter as a shiver goes up my spine, only wishing that one day the loneliness would disappear.

 The bell rings knocking me out of my trance, oh crap I yell there is no way this going to be good enough I panic but have no choice but to turn in the assignment hoping it would be enough. I try to not overthink it and just hand it. I rush to find Brittany so she can help me get to the swimming pool I am already exhausted after just one class I'm not sure how I'm going to make it a full day here. It doesn't take me long to get change into my swimsuit and I go to sit on the side of the pool, I still haven't figured out why Mr. Richard wants me in swim lessons considering I was taught when I was ten so to me this is a waste of a class. " Hi you must be Abigail I'm your instructor Bradly" a voice speaks behind me it startles me enough that I fall into the pool. As I go under Bradly jumps I guess to make sure I wouldn't drown, I don't know the only thing I really can focus on is the gills that are forming on the side of my neck holy hell what is happening to me. Bradly swims in front of me to get a clear look to make sure I wasn't struggling  or freaking out and spoke, " Abigail just breath you are fine this is normal your just transforming for the first time I was meaning to ease you into it but this seems to work to just take a deep breath and let it happen." I don't know if I'm more shocked to see pinkish-grey fin form around my legs or the fact that Bradly is fully grey now with eyes that are pitch black. " I push up to the surface of the water this was a conversation I felt needed to be done out of the water." Wait your a siren? Mr.Richards didn't tell me my instructor was like me!" Bradly looked amazing I've never seen anything like him, his tail was longer than mine with the fin more pointer while mine was rounded at the end, he's tail had a dark emerald grey look to it compared to my grey tail that shimmered in pink. It was just a lot to take it. "Bradly how wait why did I just change I've been in a pool several times growing up and never grew a tail this makes no sense." 

Abigail, when did you turn 18? Typically when a mermaid or siren are born they are raised in their village and on their 18th birthday there would have been a gathering in the ocean to celebrate the transformation For mermaids they get the gift of their tails, super strength, a song that can heal anyone, and the ability to never age. For sirens, it is a little different they are given the gift of their tails able to read their victim's mind to shapeshift into their victim's needs, and their song the only difference is their song is deadly when our song shows it the sign that death is to follow. You on the other hand Abigail are the first of your kind you are a hybrid so we can only assume that you have the traits of both species. Here during your classes, we will experiment with what you can do, for safety reasons no one but you and me will be allowed in the Poolhall we can't risk your siren side to show until you have complete control. The first time a siren kills their mind begins to change they go from an innocent teenager to a much darker version of themselves. With that, all being said let us take today a little easy we are just going to test your strength in the water along with the speed."

"Brittany hurry up I am starving I could seriously eat as much as a horse after the workout I've done this afternoon lets go get dinner." Brittany walks out of her bathroom laughing while drying her hair," hold your horses, Abbi, I am almost done and we can go. Do you work nightshift in the nursery tonight ?" Yeah I think I got assigned to the changeling babies the ladies down there said they needed a break from them, are they really that hard to handle Brittany?" Brittany thought about the question," well I wouldn't say they are hard to handle more inconsolable come bedtime. It seems they become clingy and there just aren't enough hands at night to hold all of them so a lot of them cry themselves to sleep. So the best advice I can give you is to wear earphones, feed them, and they will eventually all go to sleep. Now let's go get ourselves full before we have to deal with a bunch of sleepy toddlers." 

 Brittany wasn't lying these babies haven't quite crying since I walked in, it has been two hours and doesn't seem like it will quiet down anytime soon. I go to sit in my rocking chair hoping the room of changelings will quiet down soon my head felt like it was going to explode, Lil Peter appeared at my feet grinning from ear to ear with an empty bottle. I take that's my sign to feed yall and put you all to bed am I right? Peter goes to nodding excitedly. Who knew breast milk could calm even the fairy babies? Bottles fixed diapers changed and all the babies were laid to bed, sniffling in between drinks of the bottle. Alright, guys and Lil girls it's time for lights out. I go to flip the switch and the most amazing night sky is projected onto the ceiling, Oh my that is breathtaking I would definitely love to sleep under that, the changelings didn't appreciate the comment and went back to screaming. Welp, I guess that is a sign for a lullaby what do you guys think the screams grow louder. Ok ok I can take a hint I say as I stroll to my rocking chair humming as I go, they begin to calm down  and a song slips out:

My bairn was often silent and did sleep through half the night.

And he greeted me every morning with a smile so full of light,

But now you are much altered and do bawl the whole night through,

So hush a while, my darling, so I might know it's you.

Hush awhile, hush awhile, sleep now for me.

Lay yourself softly if my babe you be,

Or did some fay creeping from your crib steal your sleeping

And leave me a creature that's nothing of me?

Your skin was like the lily fair, as soft as winter snow,

Not like some screaming devil with his scarlet face aglow

Who wails across the wind's soft sighs that creep the casement through,

So hush a while, my darling, so I might know it's you.

Your father says you're not his own nor any child of man's,

But I think you have your father's smile, your father's gentle hands,

And I pray that you will love me like your father used to do,

So hush awhile, my darling, so I might know it's you.

If your other couldn't love you, though a fairy babe you be,

I would take you to the forest and I'd leave you 'neath yon tree,

But while you are all I have, love, yet I still will cleave to thee,

For whatever else you are, love, still your mother's love you be.

As the song ended I took around and couldn't believe that actually worked, every baby was snoring away. Yes, I think I am nailing this job I say with a small laugh as I sneak out the nursery door. " You do know it isn't the music itself that calms them right?" Bradly spoke as he peered into the nursery window. Holly hell dude how long have you been there? Are you trying to give me a heart attack? It was Bradleys turn to laugh," No I was observing to see how you handle stressful situations and got to say I am actually impressed, but back to the song, It wasn't actually the song that was calming them it was you in itself singing the lullaby that did the trick. I'm just glad you inherited a tiny bit of your mothers' talent Abigail ." He said over his shoulder as he walked away from me. Wait my voice did that?