Page 151 of Bewitched By the Sea Monster

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I rememberSensitivenow.I know what I need to say to explain it to her. But when I hold her against me and try, the words aren’t there anymore. They return when she is gone. Slip when she is near.

It’smaddening.

The curse is the reason I forget.

It’s why Iknowthere are people I hurt—sorrow—grievefor. But they’ve slipped. Mostly. Some faces return, but no words…no names.

I try to hold the words I need for Pippi. But they slip. And holdinghurts.

Not saying them hurts more.

But she leaves. And I tell her nothing.

After, I am called to feed, although I can’t eat. I move. Restlessly—un-purposefully—through the waters. Never going anywhere. Because I can’t.

But Pippi can.

I am trapped.

She isfree.

So I wait for the shadow that will take her away.

I wait to see her again. For the last time.

I wait to be alone in the waters again.

I wait to hurt.

I wait to heal.

I wait to forget.

I wait.

And wait.

That is all I can do. All I willeverbe able to do.

When the shadow arrives, the rune above my right eye burns, calling me to go to the surface.

Something isn’t right.

A second shadow passes over.

I lower in the waters, worried.

The burn deepens, making me hiss, and my body moves on its own, wanting to get rid of the hurt.

Something isn’t right.

I swim and the rune above my left eye burns, telling me I am too close to the shadow. But I am being called to be close to it.

I shake my head as I come above the surface. The hurt is…it’s…

Awful.

The only word I have for it.

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