I did not know how I had reached such a low. I was not even myself anymore. I was so deeply submerged that I forgot who myself really was.

I was underwater. Of course I could not think: my mind was flooded. Of course I could not see: my eyes were salted. Of course I could not move: my self was weakened.

The water was too strong. There was so much of it above me. I knew that without my eyes, my mind and my self, I would surely drown before reaching the top.

Then, when I knew that I was running out of time, and that I would surely drown…

I felt forces surround me.

The first force healed my eyes. For the first time since I had been underwater, I could finally see. I saw before me…three mermaids. That first had beautiful, long brown hair, flowing in the water behind her. She used her hands to wash the salt away from my eyes. Then, she swam under me, and I looked at the second mermaid.

She was small and delicate, with short brown hair and dark green eyes. She created a bubble around my head, and filled it with joy, so that my thoughts would not be flooded by the water. My mind was healed. She swam underneath me to join the first mermaid, and then, I was face to face with the third.

This mermaid was not only a force. She was a goddess. I could hardly look at her gorgeous curly hair and aqua eyes, because I did not feel worthy of such radiance. But she embraced me. She caressed me. She healed my self.

Then, with my eyes, my mind and my self intact, I knew what I had to do.

I swam. I swam as fast as I could to the top of the water. I knew I was getting close; I could see the light shining. My heart was racing and the three mermaids were swimming under me, making sure I would reach safety. I could feel the water, pushing me down, but I was resisting. I was almost there.

And then, when I would have died if I had gone one more second without air –

I floated.