Mermaid's song

He squinted and put his hand up to shade his eyes. What was that? Kelp? Maybe an otter enjoying a breakfast of abalone, tossing the shells into the wind?

The early morning sun was surely playing tricks on him; that was not a woman out there, her hair floating on the waves, yards and yards and yards of it, entwined with bits and pieces of shell. Surely that was not an arm, raised to the sky in a languid stretch; that could not be a tail, it must be simply an ocean swell.

From far away, he heard a woman singing, the ocean breeze making it sound as if it were coming from just beyond the waves, teasing him with an unrecognizable melody in the sweetest voice he'd ever heard. He'd never realized, until just this moment, how very lonely and utterly alone he was.

Reluctantly he forced himself to turn and walk back to his car; if he did not, he would surely drown.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Sterling silver, seed beads, paua shell, freshwater pearls. Bead woven, hand fabricated, princess length necklace.

Finding strength

"Hang being strong, anyway," she thought, resisting the rebellious impulse to kick something. Suddenly feeling as if she were thirteen years old again was not a pleasant feeling. Thirteen hadn't been good the first time around, and she had no intention of doing it again.

"Take a deep breath," she told herself, but the tears wouldn't stop. What was up with that? She was a grown woman; strong, secure, comfortable with herself. She'd laid these demons to rest years ago, or at least she thought she had. It was terrifying how quickly they took up residence in her mind; rearranging the furniture and painting the walls a terrifying shade of insecurity.

One finger at a time, she opened the fists she'd made.

© 2008 Cynthia Newcomer Daniel

Turquoise, Coral, glass beads and gold-filled maille. Hand fabricated choker length necklace.