Luna

I hear Katie gasp softly beside me, but I’m too focused on coughing to really pay much attention to her. Wonder spreads through me even as flecks of blood launch past my lips to spatter on the deck of the boat below. I feel a hand on my shoulder, squeezing gently. Katie shifts closer and leans into me, pulling back my hair out of my face and pinning it there. Then Olivia is crouching next to me, pushing a bottle of water into my hands.

“Drink,” is her simple instruction. I nod, continuing to cough until I manage to settle myself down enough to take a few slow sips. It helps, even just to wash the coppery tang of blood from my tongue. “Better at all?”

“Y-yes-” I manage to croak out.

“Good. Now don’t force it. You need to give those muscles time to grow strong again, it’s been a long time since you’ve spoken after all. Take deep breaths, try not to have another coughing fit, alright?”

I press my lips together and nod, breathing through my nose. Katie’s hand moves to rub up and down my spine and I can see her grinning at me from the corner of my eye. “Are you okay?” she asks, her smile faltering for a moment. I nod again, taking another mouthful of water. “You did it. Luna, you spoke, your voice…it’s back,” she murmurs as though she can’t quite believe it. I cannot quite believe it either. As much as I secretly desired it, I never actually imagined that I would find my voice again. It feels almost liberating, even if speaking feels like I am swallowing broken oyster shells at the moment.

I return her grin and nod. “Feels good,” I manage before I cough again.

Katie’s smile softens and she rests a hand on my arm. “I’m glad, but maybe relax a little hmm? You don’t want to strain it.”

“No you don’t,” Olivia chimes in. “I’m glad you’re feeling better, but don’t overdo it. Take it slow. It’s really good, though. It looks like it was a mental trauma over a physical one that lost you your voice in the first place.”

I tilt my head a little.

“She means that it was in your head, Luna,” Katie clarifies. “You weren’t physically injured, it was just how your brain responded to a trauma that put a sort of mental block on your voice and rendered you silent. Now something has changed and your brain has freed itself of that block. Does that make sense?”

I nod, feeling a little glum about it. If it was all in my head, does that mean I could have spoken the whole time and was just doing this to myself? Could I have prevented it?

I share these worries with Katie, having grown accustomed to sharing everything with her, reverting back to sign language in order to tackle the longer sentences.

“I don’t think that it works that way, Luna. It may not have been a physical thing that damaged your voice, but it was still very real for you. Right?” Katie’s eyes shift to Olivia for clarification. I glance up at her too.

The woman nods. “Yes. A mental trauma is just as real as a physical one, Luna. There wasn’t anything you could have done; it’s just what your body’s response was. But it’s good that you have your voice back.”

“It’s one less thing tying you to that lab now,” Lukshia add, startling me. I’d forgotten that she was behind us. Turning to look at her, I find a warm half smile on her lips, her bright eyes shining. I smile back. “This will be good for you. Now, we should be ready to get off this boat by tomorrow morning and it’s getting a bit later now; are you girls hungry?”

I shake my head, having finished off the fish that Katie caught and gave to me. Beside me, Katie shrugs. “A little, but not really. I’m kind of excited and nervous and I think it’s blowing my appetite,” she says.

“That’s understandable. Well, it may be a little early yet, but perhaps it’s time to turn in then. You girls are going to want to be well rested, I imagine. Especially you, Katie,” Lukshia point out.

“That’s not a bad idea. We could all use some sleep,” Olivia agrees. “And Luna, don’t strain your voice okay? Be careful. Whispers and short sentences are best for now.”

I nod. “Okay,” I agree, keeping my voice soft. It already sounds a bit less raw and my throat hurts a little less. Olivia nods, clearly satisfied. Katie’s tail nudges against me, her scales clacking against mine, and she jerks her head towards the water. “Come on, let’s sleep below,” she suggests. Her muscles coil in her tail as she springs up over the edge, arms raised above her head to slice the water first. Her fin smacks against the water, showering me, and Olivia’s legs, in salty brine.

A wide grin pulls across my lips and I follow her into the water. She’s waiting to greet me by tackling me, pulling me into a headlock and rolling us over and over in the water. Her actions steal a giggle from my lips, and the peal of laughter stops Katie in her tracks, her grip loosening.

I glance back at her with a frown. ‘Everything okay?’ I inquire.

She nods and smile. “Yeah, just startled me, is all. It really suits you, Luna.”

I can’t help but smile again. “It feels good,” I admit, surprising myself as my voice comes out halfway normal sounding, and there’s no pain this time. “I like being able to laugh, and actually hear it,” I press on. “It feels…”

“Liberating?” Katie offers. I nod, shrugging my shoulders and leaning into her. Her fingers tangle in my hair and begin to scratch at my scalp, pulling a content sigh from me. “We aren’t out of the woods yet, but I know what you mean. I feel like something shifted today; I feel less tense and worried, even though I still should be. It feels more real now.”

I nod in agreement, then frown, turning to face her. “What woods?” I inquire. Katie stares at me for a long moment and then begins to laugh, doubling over in a fit. “What?” I inquire, feeling my cheeks flush. “You said we were not out of the woods, but we are not in any forest.”

Katie rolls her eyes, still giggling, and zips over to settle on the net beneath the boat. I follow her, settling on the thick ropey material. It’s not crazy comfortable, but not terribly uncomfortable either. “It’s just a saying,” Katie elaborates. “It means we aren’t free of danger yet, we haven’t succeeded yet, that sort of thing. Sorry about laughing, it just caught me off guard. It’s been a little while since I’ve had to explain something to you, I forgot that you don’t already know what I mean.”

“That’s okay,” I reply.

“You’re sounding a lot better,” Katie observes. “And you’re not coughing. Does it hurt?”

I shake my head. “Do you think being underwater helps?”

“Maybe,” Katie agrees. She stretches out her tail for a moment before curling it against her side. “I still can’t believe that tomorrow we dock…just think, a few more days and we’ll be home,” she murmurs, her hazel eyes shining.

“You will be.” The words slip out before I can stop them.

Katie’s smile falters and she nods. “I guess, yeah. I’m sorry, Luna. But don’t worry, we’re going to find your family too, no matter what. I’ll help you look, I promise. And in the meantime, you’re more than welcome home with me.”

“You think so? I mean, what if your family doesn’t like me?”

“They will,” Katie decides, her tone firm. “You’ll see. And we will find your mother and father too, or whoever is out there waiting for you. I’m actually a little surprised we haven’t seen any other Mer,” she comments suddenly. “Do you think they’re afraid of the boat?”

“Maybe,” I agree. A yawn parts my lips and I shift, getting more comfortable.

“We’ll figure it out,” Katie promises. “Get some sleep. I have a feeling we’ll need it.”