GERT, WITCH OF MANY WATERS

"Help! Help! Help! ", Gert screams. Drowning in a swimming pool, conquered and wrapped in fear, she slowly slides into unconsciousness. "Relax little mama, this is your element, mould it, you share a soul with the water... tame it", a voice says, calmly and mellow. Gert would recognize this voice anywhere, it was her mother's voice. "Yes mommy, this is my element", She replies in obedience. It's 4:30am in Andalusia, and Gert awakes from one of her many dreams that don't make sense to her. It's been 9 years since her parents died at sea, and she has only ever dreamed of them 8 times and today, Monday 1st of July would make it her ninth time. Gert's parents were Sea travellers, they loved the water and fishing was the cherry on top of the cake. It's as if they were created to be guardians of the sea, even their name was strange, Oceans. who the hell names somebody Oceans!!. Aloe and Mint Oceans. Those were Gert's parents names, rare name for sure. Gert lost her parents at age 10 and It's not known for sure how Her parents died, but it's a fact they died at sea. Gert's Grandmother Palm Oceans, took her in and has lived with her since. Starring at the ceiling, Gert ponders at what it's like to turn herself into water, "I can tame myself", she says out loud. "why am I entertaining such silly thoughts! ", she scolds herself. "I am a 19 year old woman today and I must think maturely!, fantasies don't exist! ", she mocks herself. she looks at the clock on the side of her bed and see's the time 4:44am "dang it! I'm gonna be late for work if I don't get outta here In the next 10 minutes! ", Quickly she jumps out of bed and steps into her bathroom to shower.She rinses in 5 minutes and heads out to have breakfast with Palm, Palm likes to watch the sun rise that's why she is always up so early. " See you at 5pm Palm!, I love you! ", says Gert as she rushes out the door. It's an hour walk from the hills of Andalusia to the town. Gert works as a cleaner at the city's Aquarium. she loves this job. She believes she can hear the fish and sea turtles speak to her when she is cleaning the glass tanks. Taking walks at that time of the day in the morning has always been therapeutic for her. One thing bothered her that day, despite it Being her birthday she couldn't help but be sad because she wished her parents were there to see their little girl turning into a woman. And she couldn't stop thinking about the dream she had earlier about the water, it was the first time her mothers voice told her to tame the water. It was weird because no one can tame water unless they put it in a bottle or bucket. She felt a burning urge to do as she was told in her dream. She brushed it off as she had to focus at work, she couldn't afford to lose a job. 20 minutes to go until she could head home and her boss Santiago called for her in his office. "Dang! what did i do!?? ", she questioned herself in worry. "Miss Oceans, I'd like for you to remain and lock up tonight, Paulo usually does it but he called in sick today, I'd really appreciate it if you locked up. I'll pay you over time and I'll stop by your home and tell your grandmother that you'll be working late. " Santiago told her. "I don't mind Sir, I'll stay and lock up". When everyone left and it was just Gert. she took out a polony sandwich and sat on the floor, in front of the tank that harbours sea Turtles. while eating it she thought "may be if I told this turtle to flip, it would", and without her uttering a word the turtle flipped and turned. "What in tha??? " "Hell to tha" "oh hell no!, that just didn't happen! ", Gert thought out loud. she squeezed her eyes together, hard enough to almost make them cry and she decidedto try it again, but this time she said in her mind "Freeze" and the sea creatures in the tanks around her froze!. A dazzled Gert picked up her bag and left the aquarium in shock of what took place. Walking out the building, a bewildered Gert started to mumble "why did we even move to Spain! it's so weird here! turtles even hear my thoughts! or maybe in just going crazy, we should have stayed in Australia even though our house burned down we would have built another! ". Seeing that it was really dark outside, Gert decided to run towards her home, the cold air caressed her plump cheeks and blew her beautiful Ginger hair backwards. Gert's hair was naturally brown but she thought it looked dusty and decided to dye it. When she finally got home, Palm was waiting for her with the brightest of smiles, "welcome Home Gertrude Oceans! look who is all grown up, happy birthday to you my dear " said Palm. Handing Gert a slice of Red Velvet cake Palm baked for her, "thank you Grandma, your cakes are always so delicious and mouth watering",. Now that you're 19 years old, I must teach you all about who you are and what you will become if you choose to. "Uhmm its about time!!! I have been asking for years, what's the matter now Palm, tell me all about it, I am all ears. "