Student Publishing Program ::

Amanda Daigle

Where the Ocean Meets the Sky

A girl sat on a beach alone, staring at the distant horizon, where the ocean met the sky…

…She stood up and spread her glistening wings. She took off into the distance, soaring until the beach was lost in the ethereal mist behind her. Without warning she dove straight into the shining blue ocean beneath her, tucking her wings into her back. She entered the water like a fish and as it enveloped her legs, she became one. Her legs melded into one piece and became a graceful mermaid’s tail. She twisted in the water as gills formed on the sides of her neck. Then she quickly took off toward a familiar destination. She swam through the water enjoying the silky feel of it on her hands and tail. But when she came to the mermaid’s village she stopped short. The multi-colored rock formations that served as their houses were the same as ever, but they were abandoned. Not a soul moved in the place, not even a stray fish. The singing mermaids and racing mermen were gone. Something was wrong. Then she saw a bit of cloth caught on a jut of rock, fluttering in the current. She picked it up. It was made of a shiny silver material that reflected every color in the light. She’d never seen it in the village before. A clue…

…A lone dog began to run towards her across the sand. She wondered where its owner was. But as it ran towards her, she realized it wasn’t a dog. It was some sort of small horse, with a single horn on its head. A unicorn! It walked right up to her and stood staring at her. Disbelieving, the girl stood up and stared back. It was a little bigger than a large dog, and its coat seemed at once to be white and every other color imaginable. Just as the girl registered this, the unicorn opened its mouth and began to speak in a in a low, singsong voice. “ Hello. Do not be afraid. I know this must be a shock, but it is time to embrace your future. Your destiny is great.”…

…A boy sitting behind her wrapped his friendly, strong arms around her. He rested his head on her shoulder and stared out at the same horizon she looked at. “It’s beautiful”, he said. “Almost as beautiful as you are.” The girl smiled and turned to face him. “I love you,” he whispered. The girl stared into his deep brown eyes and smiled. “I love you too,” she whispered back. The boy’s smile broke over his face like the sunrise. He leaned in to kiss her…

A girl sat on a beach alone, staring at the distant horizon, where the ocean met the sky. She sighed and stood up. She turned slowly and started the long walk back to her empty house in the city behind her. No mermaids, unicorns, or soul mates awaited her there. As she walked, it started to rain. The girl smiled and began to run. It was time to find her own adventure.

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