Echo Of The Ocean

All I could feel was unbearable pain. The water was freezing, like ice from a glacier. It felt like millions of tiny needles simultaneously penetrating every inch of my flesh. I watched while the light at the water's surface dimmed as I sank deeper into the dark abyss. A trail of deep red flowing from the deep wound in the center of my chest and toward the surface. My mind began to wander as numbness spread throughout my body. How did it end up like this? How did I not see this coming? I could feel my eyes growing heavy as the darkness consumed me. I began to feel at peace and accept my fate. I closed my eyes and welcomed death like an old friend. I jolted awake at the sound of my alarm blaring letting me know it was five-thirty in the morning. I was drenched in sweat, freezing, my head pounding, and my heart racing. I slammed my hand down on the button to make the loud screech of my alarm stop torturing my ears. After collecting my thoughts, I slowly uncovered my shivering body and got out of bed. I pulled all of the blankets and the sheet from my bed. I put them into the hamper before shuffling into the bathroom and turning on the shower. I peeled off my clothes and stepped into the warm water. After letting my skin adjust to the small amount of heat I made the water hotter. I closed my eyes and let the water wash over me. Trying to forget the nightmare that has plagued me every night for the past three months. It never changes, I am always sinking into the depths of the ocean, bleeding from my chest, feeling like I am going to die. I always wake up the moment I accept death. After my shower, I stepped out, wrapped a towel around myself, and walked over to the sink to brush my teeth. I looked at myself in the mirror, my ocean-blue eyes were overshadowed by the dark circles under them from not getting one good night's sleep in months. They stood out against my pale white flesh. I finished brushing my teeth then I opened the small drawer containing the concealer I use to cover the dark circles. I applied a small amount of the cream under each eye and went to work on covering the darkness. I walked out of my bathroom and back into my room to get ready for my first day of senior year. I opened my closet and pulled out my outfit for the day. I made sure all my books were in my bag and I grabbed a thin jacket to try and keep the chills down today. After double-checking that I had everything I needed, I left my room and headed downstairs for breakfast. As I entered the kitchen my mother was standing at the stove making pancakes. “Good morning mom.” I greeted quietly as I sat at the island in the center of the kitchen. “Morning sweetheart, how did you sleep?” she asks me every morning and I always give the same answer, “I slept great, went to bed pretty early, and got a full night's rest.” She gave me her classic mother-like smile as she put the pancakes on each plate containing bacon, sausage, and eggs. She handed me my plate, I began to eat as my twin sister Sirena entered the room. “Good morning Mom, good morning sissy. I hope you both slept as well as I did.” Sirena is my twin sister but we look nothing alike. She took after our mom with her looks, she had straight red hair with a heart-shaped face and emerald eyes. She had the perfect slim figure. I, however, had taken after our dad, well at least I think I did. We never met our dad, the only thing mom would tell us is that he was a sailor and was lost at sea. She never had any pictures of him and any time I would ask more about him she would go reticent and then retreat to her room. I like to imagine that I look like my dad, with my dark hair and blue eyes. My hourglass figure on the other hand I don't know where I inherited that from. Another thing that makes Sirena and I so different is that no matter where I am or who I am with, I do not change who I am. Sirena however, is a sweet caring sister, whenever mom is around but the moment we are out of her sight Sirena changes. She becomes cold, cruel, and selfish. She has tormented me my whole life. I don’t know why she hates me so much and I no longer care, or at least that’s what I keep telling myself. I finished my breakfast and put my plate in the sink. The time read six-forty-five, so I secured my bag over my shoulder and started for the door. “Bye mom, I will see you after school. Have a good day at work.” As I opened the door to leave I heard my mom call out, “I have to work a double shift tonight sweetie. I will leave money for food on the fridge.” I froze for a split second as my mom rounded the corner to hug me before I left. “It’s fine mom, I might just go to the library after school and do some reading. Is that okay with you?” She smiled sweetly and nodded before telling me not to stay out too late. I hugged her gently before walking out the front door, closing it behind me. It was about a ten-minute walk to the bus stop. I took out my phone and plugged in my earbuds. I went to my favorite playlist and turned it on, plugging my ears, I began my walk. As I neared the bus stop I could hear loud honking over my music, I removed one of my earbuds and turned around just in time to see a black car swerving on the road coming straight toward me. For a split second, I was frozen in my spot, a mixture of hope and fear coursing through me. Hope for a quick end and fear of never seeing my mother again. Before I knew what was happening I felt a pair of arms wrap around me and pull me out of the way of the car right as it came to a screeching halt. I was expecting the hard impact of the ground but instead, I was met with a firm hard chest. I looked beneath me and was staring into the most gorgeous set of green eyes. It took me a second to realize I was still lying on top of him. Panicking, I immediately jumped up and apologized. “Oh, my gods! I am so so sorry. Are you okay?” I stretched out my hand to help him up but he just continued to look at me as if I had grown two heads. I was once again drawn to his gorgeous green eyes. It was like a staring contest now. “Oh, My God! Are you two okay? Is anyone hurt? Do I need to call 9-1-1?” I could hear the panicked voice of an older man get closer. I was pulled out of the trance when someone touched my arm. “Miss, are you okay? Do I need to call someone for you?” I turned my head to find a man who looked to be in his late forties staring at me with eyes as big as saucers. “I am fine, there is no need to call anyone. It just gave me a fright, that’s all.” I finally managed to squeak out. The man let out a heavy sigh of relief. “I am so sorry miss. I don’t know what happened, it was like the car had a mind of its own.” I turned back to the boy that had saved me only to find that he was gone. I quickly looked around and noticed he was now walking past the bus stop and the bus was quickly approaching. Turning back to the man I quickly told him that I was fine, he need not worry about me. “I have to go catch my bus to school. I truly am fine, have a great day.” I turned on my heels and ran up to the bus stop leaving the man there puzzled. Just as I got to the bus stop, the bus came to a complete stop. I got on the bus and went straight to my usual seat at the very back of the bus. Before I knew it we were arriving at school and I was once again pulled from my thoughts.