Deep Dive

In the bustling city by the sea, during the heart of tourist season, where sounds of luggage moving on the road and loud giggles from lively visitors are all a person could hear, there lived one small family. Mother and father were waiting impatiently in front of their car, both ready to go on a summer vacation of their own. However, the daughter wasn't sharing her parent's enthusiasm.
This young lady was rapidly scrolling through her phone contacts, messaging so many people at once, and typing fast in distress.
"Marina, get outside this instant, or I'll throw away your phone through the window!" Her mother yelled.
"Just a minute, please; I just need one more minute!" The girl yelled back.
"That's it, I'm coming inside." This was Mother's last straw.
Upon hearing this, the daughter rushed outside like her life depended on it.
Miss Late had straight long blonde hair and cyan eyes. The girl was tall and beautiful, wearing a white sleeveless hoodie with a dark blue anchor print on it and matching dark blue shorts. She had white sandals with seashells on her feet.
"Ohh, now you are fast. Honestly, Marina, do I really need to yell in order for you to get out?! Someone would think I'm calling you to go to a doctor's appointment. Then I'd understand this behavior. But you're going on summer vacation and will even have the whole house to yourself for a month. House with a beautiful view, and it's close to the beach too. Close to the beach! Do you know what people would give to have that chance? Well, you clearly don't with that attitude, but your father and I would ditch our work right away if we could and enjoy every moment."
"Dear, I think she got it. But yes, your mother is right, Marina. You have to appreciate what you have and use your time wisely."
"I know... It's just that... Ahh, after you told me there won't be any wifi in the house for a whole month, I realized I had to let everyone know, or they'd think I was dead. She said with an exaggerated, sad look on her face.
"Is there any chance you could buy me an internet package, pleaseeeee!"
"Absolutely not! You're already spending too much time on that thing. Mobile this, mobile that. We didn't have any phones when we were young, and our generation still knew how to have fun. Mother said.
"But it's a boring place. I don't have any friends there, nothing ever happens, and if I can't use my phone, I'll die of boredom."
"Well then, it's time for you to make some new friends and find ways to have fun. Use your imagination!"
"I have to agree with your mother here. Not having wifi may sound like the end of the world at first, but it's an opportunity for you to do things that you usually never do because you are spending too much time scrolling. Ohh, like, for example, your songs. There is enough paper in the house and a pencil box too. You can go in nature and find inspiration for your songs. " Father suggested.
Marina was lost in thoughts for a moment, thinking about what her father had just said.
"I... I'll try." She replied.
Ahhh, it's true that I'm procrastinating way too much. Still, I don't think I'll do much with or without the phone. This will be just another boring summer. No wait, the most boring so far.
She thought in her head while she was entering the car. And so our family of three drove to a small place in south Dalmatia in Croatia.
They stopped in front of the beautiful old-style stone house.
"Alright, Marina, now listen closely. Dad and I will be here in a month. Keep the house clean; we left you enough money for the food, so don't go spending it all in one day or on some dumb things. Say hello to our cousins and neighbors, and be polite. You will have to clean right now too because no one was in the house for a year, but that shouldn't be a problem for you. After all, you were complaining so much about being bored; fear not, your mom knows how to cure your boredom. "
"Ha-ha, thank you, Mom." Marina responded sarcastically.
"See you soon, take care!" Her parents said as they were leaving.
"Take care!" She waved.
The girl's smile quickly faded as she turned around and stood in front of the stone house.
It's just you and me now.
She thought.
Three hours later, after deep cleaning and, of course, constant breaks, the house was shining.
"I'm exhausted and hungry. Ahh, I guess I'll go buy something to eat. Let's see what the time is."
The girl grabbed her phone.
"Three pm?!"
Why is the night soooo far away? And yeah, there is really no wifi. I mean, I knew that already, but a small glimpse of hope remained. Hope dies last after all. Alas, I'm destined to spiral into boredom and stare at the ceiling for a month.
After ten more minutes of lying on the floor with an annoyed expression on her face, Marina finally got up and went outside. On her way to the store, neighbors and cousins stopped her countless times to greet her, ask about her parents, and, of course, after breaking the ice, to start the real questioning.
"What grade are you in now?"
"Just finished third grade."
"Oh nice, nice. So which university are you planning to go to?"
"I'm still not sure."
"Oohoo, must be what your mother picked, oh, or your father?"
"No, I'm really not sure yet."
"Ohh, alright, alright, but don't think for too long. You have to think those things through early on. Time flies fast."
"Yes, true."
"So... do you have a part-time job?"
"Not yet, but I was thinking of finding one."
"Thinking, thinking. Money won't earn itself. You have to help your parents."
"True, I agree. Don't worry, I will."
"Okay, good. Ohh, did you go to the beach? Did you swim?"
"Not yet. I just got here."
"When?"
"Today."
"Oh, for heaven's sake. I know that part. I'd have known if you arrived earlier. When today?"
"A few hours ago."
"Ahh, a few hours ago, and I see you only now. What were you doing?"
"I was cleaning the house."
"Aha. Well, you are done with that, so now you can go to the beach."
"Yes, I will. Right after I eat something first."
"Now you are eating? Do you know when I ate my lunch? At noon, like any normal person would. Tsk tsk. Okay, go fast, eat lunch, and then quickly go to the beach. The sea is great today."
"I will."
"Okay, go now and say hello to your parents from me."
"Don't worry, I will."
Aghhh, she finally left. I barely survived.
Same faces, same questions every year, and it's like I'm stuck in the loop. They don't even ask because they care. Nope, they ask only for the sake of saying something. It's because they don't know what else to say to me, and this is like a safe manual to them.
A few minutes later Marina finally reached the store and bought the necessary ingredients for the lunch. On her way back she quickly rushed to the house in order to avoid any more cousin interrogations. It was a simple yet delicious dish. Roasted chicken and mushrooms in red wine with mashed potatoes and a glass of fresh orange juice. After lunch Marina looked at her phone again only to realize how just two hours had passed since she last checked. The girl glanced at papers on a desk. Of course, her already minimum interest in those papers was soon to be interrupted by a message notification.
It was from the girl's parents, saying:
"Hope you cleaned the house and ate by now. Also don't forget to go swimming. We didn't buy you that new swimsuit to collect the dust."
Ahhh, why not? It's not like I have anything better to do.
She thought in her head.
Marina searched for a swimsuit with a lazy expression on her face.
Half an hour later she finally arrived on the beach.
It's not that I have any reason to avoid swimming, nor do I hate it. I actually enjoyed it a lot when I was younger and was quite good too. I used to have stamina, and now... ahhh, I started seeing it as a bother. I enjoyed it less and less... But it's not just with swimming. For so long it felt like I lost passion for the things I usually like. Simple everyday moments or personal hobbies, I wouldn't give them much of a thought or spend my time pursuing what I love. Huh, it's funny how being away from social media for just half a day made me have these thoughts now. I feel so philosophical.
Thinking those words left a bittersweet taste in the mouth.
It was such a short distance between feet and the sea, yet it felt like hundreds of miles. However, after a few minutes of hesitation, Marina left the comfort zone and started swimming.
Brrr, it's so cold; I'm freezing.
That was her first reaction.
But... It's fun. Makes me feel capable again. I feel so free, like I'm flying. It took me so long to start, but now I don't want to get out. I want to swim far away and see how far I'll go.
Suddenly, blue light glowed from the sea. At first Marina thought it was her imagination, but then the light became brighter, mesmerizing. A beautiful glow sparked curiosity in a person.
Hmm, it doesn't seem that deep. I'll just take a quick look. Could be some lost jewelry.
She thought. Marina took a deep breath before diving into the sea.
Ahh, it's been even longer since I opened my eyes while diving.
Ohh, I was right, this light... It's a bracelet. So pretty. I can reach it and take it with me.
Though as soon as the bracelet was touched, the light shone brighter than before. A strong force appeared out of nowhere, pulling everything in its way inside. Marina quickly grabbed the bracelet and rushed to the surface. However, it became obvious right away that something was wrong. Marina was in the middle of the open sea with no land to be seen. This clearly wasn't the beach she came from, but then, where was Marina?

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