MY STORY

"Because you're a special being and a bridge between the ghost kingdom and human kingdom. That is the mere reason you can see and converse with me and you alone can help me. My soul needs peace so I can rest."

I didn't know what she meant by that but whatever it was already piqued my interest. "I'm listening" I whispered, taking a deep breath.

"Are sure you're ready?"

"Yes, I am ready," I replied. 

"I've always known I was gonna die that day because I was a gift to my mum from a Goddess, though only I knew about this as I couldn't share such a thing with my mum knowing I'm an only child."

"But why were you gifted to her by a Goddess?"

"Because mum begged for a child from the Goddess of the sea but what she never knew was that I wasn't gonna live long and I'll be taken away."

I was silent for a while thinking of the possibility of such and then I asked her. "Where then do I come in?"

"Before then I'll love to make you understand something," she mumbled, her eyes boring into mine.

"Ok." I begrudgingly answered.

"When I was little, I've always had this power flowing in me. I could see things unseen just like you and could also do so many supernatural things, but in all my life I've lacked one thing.

"What?"

"LOVE" she whispered.

"How?"

"At first, when all my relationships couldn't work out I thought I was just not fortunate," she replied. "But on the day I clocked twenty-one, I had my first divine visitation.

"On that day I had just broken up with my sixth boyfriend. I was so bitter that I went to the beach in the middle of the night just to find solace after asking mum why my relationships kept breaking apart and she couldn't give me a better reply. It was on a full moon and everywhere was so radiant.

"I sat close to the sea with so much bitterness and so many questions and suddenly I heard my name being called from deep inside the waters.

"ISABELLA...

"ISABELLA...

"ISABELLA...

"'Here I am.' I answered with boldness that I never knew was in me then she appeared."

"Who?" I asked, rubbing my jaw with so much curiosity.

She stared at me with a little smile plastered on her face. "You're so curious and bold Chris. I'm impressed. For a mere mortal, I expected you to be shivering right now."

"You're forgetting one thing" I whispered.

"What?" She raised a brow.

"You said I'm a special being, I guess that's why I'm bold."

Nodding her head, she started again.

"Relaxing on a coffin on top of the sea close to me was a lady so so beautiful with a crown on her head and her eyes so shiny like a star.

"The waves of light coming out of her body alone almost blinded my eyes that I had to shield my eyes with my hands. The first time I trembled in fear because all my life knowing who I was, I never feared anyone but there I was shivering.

"'ISABELLA MY CHILD.' she called.

"'Who are you and how did you know my name?' I asked back, feeling my heartbeat racing.

'"Your Earthly Mum Told You Everything About You, Didn't She?'

'"That doesn't answer my question. She chuckled and the sea shooked. It was like a thousand ladies chuckling.

"Then I started hearing voices without seeing their faces and they said;

"'Bow Before The Queen Of Queens.'

"'Bow Before The Goddess Of The Seas.'

"'Bow Before The River Goddess Who Made You.'

"After their voices stopped, the lady on the sea looked at me and said. 'I am goddess AMPHITRITE, the goddess of the sea who gave you as a gift to your earthly mum.'

"Instantly, I saw myself on my knees with my face down. I bowed before her.

"'I Felt The Bitterness Of Your Heart And I AM Here To Answer All Your Questions. Do Not Be Afraid. SPEAK.'

"With my face bowed, I asked her, 'why can't I be loved back? Why aren't my relationships working out? But I was met with silence.'

'"SIT.' She muttered. I obeyed.

'"FOR EVERY GIFT ISABELLA, THERE IS A PRICE. YOUR EARTHLY MUM CALLED ON TO ME WITH TEARS IN HER EYES. FOR 30 EARTHLY DAYS, YOUR MUM CRIED BEFORE THE WATERS. 29 DAYS I KEPT SILENT.'

"'30TH DAY I WAS STILL SILENT BECAUSE I KNEW THE PRICE TO BE PAID BUT SHE STILL CAME BACK.'

"'SUCH A STUBBORN LADY, I VISITED HER IN A DREAM AND GAVE YOU TO HER AS A GIFT.'

'"ISABELLA YOUR PRICE FOR COMING FROM TWO KINGDOMS IS YOU CAN'T BE MARRIED TO ANY MORTAL.'

"What!' I growled, scattering my hair.

"With deep voices, she announced in different languages; 'Pay Heed Thou Daughter Of The Sea Goddess. Love Is Not Meant For You If You Wanna Live Long' and she vanished.

"I sobbed all through that night after which, I made a decision never to date again. But then I met him. You already know who. Just like in movies Chris and I bumped into each other.

"I was so irritated and wanted to make that day his last day on earth but he uttered; 'I'm so sorry pretty.'

"I've got a deficiency for the word 'sorry' so I replied 'it's fine' and I walked away without glancing at him for a second, but I met him again after a month that incident occurred in a shopping mall. He recognized me and we got talking.

"He offered to pay my bills as a method of a second apology which I declined but he was so persistent and stubborn. Chris was this jovial type, teases a lot, and sings too. Always had a smile on his face which made me nickname him 'Laughter.' At a point, we started growing feelings for each other but then I started avoiding him. 'I can't die young' I always confided in myself.

"For 3yrs, Chris kept begging and when I couldn't take it anymore, I begged him and confessed to him that I couldn't date him.

"I didn't know how to explain who I was to him so I stopped receiving his calls, his gifts and I left the city.

"But then on an evening on a full moon close to the beach, my favorite spot, after 3yrs, I bumped into Chris again."