Надя Грин - To breathe

see me from outer space, – said the shiny spot with a romantic mood. – I was a powerful sea with endless shores.

– A sea? – for a second Fish was sure she was speaking with a crazy person. – Is it possible?

– The sea. Yes, possible. These animals you’ve seen in the city, lived within me. It was hard to breathe for them. It was a torture for them. But they did not know other life, and that is why they thought it was normal. But we both were tormented, – the Sea voice became a little angry. – They, trying to live within me; dried me. And I, by holding them here; killing them with my waves.

After a small break the Sea continued.

– From the start, my waters were leaving me very slowly, I almost did not notice. Just a few shores moved, I did not think much of it. But later, with every day my depth was becoming shallower and shallower. When my size was already the size of a big lake, with every hour, my waters were leaving. Everyone was sure I would completely disappear soon. When I became a pond a lot of animals left me. And when I became a puddle as I am now, the last very cowardly squirrel, who was really afraid of changes, left me. Since that time, I’m fully alone here.

Now Fish started to believe Sea and fully felt his pain. She did not know how, but she really wanted to help him.

– Can you not get your full size anymore?

– I do not know. I dream about it every night that I am as huge as this starry sky. It is sad, but now I can reflect just a few beautiful stars, – answers Sea.

– Can I watch it? – carefully asked Fish.

– Of course. You can come to me, – answered Sea.

Fish slowly came and bent over the water. She froze in surprise. From there someone the same as her watched her back.

– But you are the same as me! – screamed Fish to her reflection. She thought it’s the person with whom she spoke for all this time. She thought she was looking at Sea’s face.

She did not wait for any answer from the Sea and jumped into the water.

Within the water she was confused. She has never been in an environment like this. She could suddenly breath. And it was very easy for her, completely unlike before. It took a half a minute for her to understand how to swim. To understand how to move her tail and fins. How to work her gills.

So nice freedom and ease she never felt before. She finally felt at her real place.

But, she suddenly remembered Sea’s story. She got scared and quickly went out of the water.

At the same time, Sea thought the same. In one second, he recalled his whole life. He did not know how this all will turn out for him and for Fish.

In this moment Fish jumped out of the water, moved her tail and fell down back to water.

Sea smiled.

Fish jumped out again and screamed.

– Are you still drying out?

And back to water.

And Sea watched his edges. He slowly started to feel his water, as with magic, grew.

Fish jumped out of the water again to listen to his answer.

– I think I’m getting bigger! – surprised but surely answered Sea.

Fish went back to the water. And jumped out again very fast.

– It is unbelievable great news! – screamed Fish from happiness. – Isn’t it mean I can stay here?

– If you want! – quiveringly answered Sea.

Fish went back to the water. Now she also feels that more and more space is becoming around her. Now she can make bigger and bigger circles around.

Sea was growing with every second, growing waves’ sound, growing shores and the bottom gets deeper.

Fish again jumped out of water and said, – I want it so much!

Sea just watched Fish and did not answer. He was too happy to talk.

And just in minutes, he said very quietly, – I waited so long.

Within a few days, Sea got huge again.

Fish and Sea are now not lonely anymore, now they have each other.

Fish, happy and free inside the Sea's water. And Sea becomes a real sea with the right person inside.

The end.

--">