Pretty Gina

The seals played in front of me as I sat on the bench by their tank. They were beautiful animals...so playful and graceful… so happy.

I often came to the Aquarium when I needed to meditate or if I’d had a tough day. This was one of those times. It had been a rough couple of days and I wasn’t sure how I would make it through the next week.

Graham and I had gotten into one of our epic fights ...Again....and He had finally tossed me out. He had expected me to beg him to let me stay, Graham knew that I didn’t have any family or options in the area and he got a kick out of threatening to send me packing every once in awhile, and I was tired of the constant threats so I packed my crystals and clothes and left.

It would be a few nights of sleeping in my beat up clunker ford fiesta but it was better than dealing with him anymore.

I thought he was just being mean at first, but then I figured out that he was ridiculously insecure and that there was nothing that I could do to fix it, and if I was going to be honest I had been thinking of leaving Graham anyway.

He and I had fought so much this last year and a half that I was fed up. It had been great for the first 2 years and then had started to go downhill.

A speckled seal that I had nicknamed Doug pressed its nose to the tank wall directly in front of me, Doug had been coming to see me after my 2nd visit to the aquarium- He (I had asked one of the workers here and they had let me know that Doug was indeed a boy) always seemed to know when I needed cheering up- it just taken me a little bit to figure out that it was the same seal every time, those big black eyes seemed to say I'm sorry that you’re hurting if I could take your pain away I would.

I stared into them and then I caught my reflection. I sighed.

The woman staring back at me felt like a stranger.

Yes she had my long dark waves, now sprinkled with some white here and there, framing an oval face with big chocolate colored eyes. But the look in her eyes was one that I had never worn before......it was defeat.

It made me hurt to know that Graham and I had gotten to this place, and it strengthened my resolve to walk away from him completely.

I knew that no matter what he said or did he would be calling me soon to come back "home" and he would say he was sorry and that we could work it out.

Honestly it was time for me to leave this city entirely, few things had worked out for me here and in the 5 and a half years since moving here I had made very few connections and even less friends.

Part of that was due to Graham I realized as I looked back on it now.

He had always been so dreary about my being social.

I should have walked away months ago.

Doug bobbed up and down at me, wow it was almost like a nod!

I wished I could pull Doug out of the tank and hold him right now.

I was sorely in need of some serious cuddling and he looked so furry and soft and squishable. Graham had been lacking in the affection department for a long time now.

Doug's lips curled up and if I didn't know better I would almost say that seal looked a bit smug.

Gah! I shook myself.

I am socially deprived but this was a new low point.

I was currently seeking comfort from and attributing human reactions to an undersea mammal.

And again Doug's big seal eyes looked at me in a way that I could only describe as ...narrowing his eyes??

I rubbed my eyes and as I did I could feel how tired I really was.

And then my cell phone started to jingle, I sighed because I knew it was Graham, I pulled it from my "Hippie bag" as Graham liked to say in a snarky tone and sure enough it was him.

I muted it and stared at it until my voicemail took the call. I waited. Then the text messages started. Always the same ones after a fight,

Are you there?

Pick up.

Please pick up.

I love you very much.

I'm sorry; I was in a bad mood.

Please pick up Gina.

I'd like to hear your voice.

At least let me know that you are ok.

So this is how you're going to do things?

Seriously??!?!?!

Well fine! Don't even bother coming home! I don't need your drama anyway. Jesus Gina, it was a fight. Why do you always do this?

And then around 20 minutes would go by and he would be begging me to come home again

I swiped the home screen to open, and yep all of the same texts. I had always wondered if he just copy-pasted them whenever we had a fight from the last fight.

I stared at the last text line- If you don't come home right now, I'm not trying anymore. We are done. Don't bother coming home! I'm Done Gina!

I really wanted to text back and tell him that I was done this morning when he threw me out. I really, really wanted to!

I stared at that phone and my thumbs hovered over the keys for a time.

And then something clicked in my mind, I was done…which meant that he was in the past and I didn't owe him anything. I had all of my things with me; there were no loose ends or links back to Graham.

This chapter of my life was done, and then I closed my phone. It felt a lot like closing a huge, heavy door.

I held my phone and looked up and around me as I felt a weight come off of my chest and shoulders.

It is over, time to start something new.

I felt my lips curve into a smile; I was scared but excited too.

I met Doug's eyes and he was staring at me intently.

I thought to myself what a truly beautiful creature he was and how he brought me so much more happiness just sitting by him with a big hunk of glass between us not talking then I had had in a long time.

It would be so nice to find a man like Doug!

You know; sweet, caring, empathetic, soft, squishy and of course; gorgeous!

Too bad he was a seal…a very large and fluffy seal who in human terms would have been around 6 foot 3.

What a shame! He would be a great guy.

Doug's nose twitched and his little seal eyebrows rose. They say animals can sense moods. Looking at Doug I was certain that this was true.

I pocketed my phone.

Well I had best get to it if I was going to make my car comfortable for a few nights.

I didn't need to be at my part time job at Sacred Journeys (my local metaphysical shop) till Thursday which gave me 3 days to find a place to live.

I got up off of the bench and moved closer to the Plexiglas tank wall that stood between Doug and I, I brushed my fingertips against the spot where he still had his nose pressed like I had done so many times before “Well Doug, Wish me luck….. It looks like I'm going to need it."

"You are strong Gina, You can get through this. I will be here when you need me. Come back to me Pretty Gina" a deep voice filled with a mix of compassion-worry-and longing? Filled the air around me.

I could felt my eyes widen as I jerked back from the tank wall and looked around, that voice was close, but there wasn't anyone near me.

I looked back at Doug and saw what I could only describe as shock on his face.

Well maybe he had heard it too.

I had never had the experience of a spirit speaking to me but my friend Bridget had them all the time which was how she opened Sacred Journeys.

Hmm a spirit guide would be nice right now, I could use the advice.

"Well Doug, I guess I'm on the right track. I'm hearing from my spirit guides now, hahaha" I smiled at Doug and he just stared at me, he would normally smile back.

I guess hearing a spirit guide was unsettling for him. I couldn't blame him.

"Me too Bud, Me too." I patted the Plexiglas in front of his nose and made my way to grab my bag and head to my car.

I saw as I was leaving that another seal, this one was dark brown, swam up to Doug as I left. That was his buddy that I had dubbed Mitch. I was Glad he wouldn't be lonely.

Life was about to get much more interesting for me!

****

I was stunned.

Minden swam up as Gina walked away.

Her hips had a more jaunty sway than they usually did.

She was happy. And that was good.

"So "Doug"….How is Miss Geeeena doing this visit? Has your pretty brunette Hippi decided to dump the sleaze ball and run away with you yet?" Mindren goaded lightly through the mind link that we all shared.

At my silence he prodded " Ohhh, this must be good! Judging by the intense way that you're staring down her retreating back I'm going to guess something interesting happened today. And did it involve her promising to bring snacks?" His mirth traveled through the link and tickled my mind.

Our people's mind link conveyed both thoughts and feelings. We can also hear other beings thoughts. But they have to be receptive for us to be able to have a conversation with them. Which humans were not.

I normally took the bait but nothing could shake me out of my thoughts today.

"Mindren, she heard me."

"Yeah, our seal bark can be heard through the Plexiglas. Did she think it was cute at least?" He waggled his eyebrows at me while swimming in lazy circles

"No, she HEARD me."

He stopped swimming and floated in the water "Humans don't receive mind links. We have tried over and over in the past. They can't "hear" us, Donal. No matter how much we might want them to." He grew wistful and his eyes drifted towards the little blonde gift shop cashier, April, who Mindran had been crushing on over the summer.

I felt for him as she was oblivious…however she had snuck him in a few extra fish now and again. He joked that it was as close to a dinner date with April as he would get.

This new development with Gina might change that.

"Mindren Gina heard me. She thought it was her spirit guide. But she heard me. I heard it in her thoughts"

His eyebrows went even higher "Whoa, ok. So ……wow!" I could see the calculations running through his mind.

This would be the first legitimate communication between our people and humans while still in our seal form.

Not bad for Selkies who got drunk and passed out in the seal exhibit at the Aquarium.

"Roan!!”

"What!" Roan looked up from snacking. He was the one whose idea of going up on land and getting hammered it was. He was the instigator of our current situation. Also the smartest of the three of us. Well, book smart anyways.

"Are you ever full?" Mindren quirked is nose up

"No." Roan answered flatly. Roan had wanted to leave almost immediately but Mindren had talked him into staying for a few days.

And then Roan had laid eyes on Deanna. The tall redheaded single mother who Mindren and I agreed would keep Roan here indefinitely.

When he looked at her, everything else went away for him.

Thankfully we were able to let our families back home know what had happened and that we were alright through the mind link because between Gina , April and Deanna we were stuck here.

"Roan, Donal's little hippi HEARD him."

Roan's head snapped up and he fixed me with an intense eye “How?" He swam towards us; he was midnight black with a few white patches here and there. Deanna's young son had named him shadow, which was fitting.

Roan came nose to nose with me "what were you doing?"

He was always a little intense, but if anyone could figure this out it would be him and I needed Gina to hear me- once I could talk with her I would be sanctioned to shape shift in front of her which was essential to our kind when forming relationships - “It was a normal visit. Everything was normal. She has left the inferior male that she was seeing. She expressed her opinions of my appearance, they are very favorable...”

Mindren barked with laughter "She thinks you’re a cute little seal!!! That’s a long way from being a suitable mate man!"

"Actually she wished that she could find a man like me. Thank you very much!" I countered, I knew how defensive I sounded but I couldn't help it.

Roan and Mindren looked at each other.

"No...Couldn’t be" Roan was looking incredulous

"No way" Mindren shook his head

"Nope…no ...naaahh" Mindren gave a bark

"Could it truly be that simple?” Roan muttered almost to himself

"Guys!! What?" I was irritated now

"You wanted Gina to hear you. And SHE wanted to communicate with you. She was vulnerable due to the break up and she needed somebody to reach out to. It was all about desire, Donal. She needed someone, and that someone was you." Roan looked so taken aback.

"So humans need to be in a vulnerable place to communicate?" Mindren look skeptical

“The inferior threw her out and left her homeless. She wanted to pull me out of the tank and snuggle with me" I informed them.

And much as I hated to think of kind hearted Gina without a home- I would have happily taken her back to my family and our home- I swelled with pride at the thought of her deep desire to cuddle me. It would be so nice and I would enthusiastically enjoy Gina cuddles.

Roan's and Mindren's jaws dropped open and they jerked backwards a bit “Yeah, that is some serious vulnerability. That would do it" they chorused

My heart soared.

I had felt an instant connection with Gina the first day she had come to the aquarium. I had been able to feel her stress and sadness and frustration from two exhibits over.

And even through all of that she had taken the time to care for others around her.

Be it helping a small girl who had gotten separated from her mother to find the mother again or buying a crying little boy a stuffed toy that his mother just couldn’t afford- just to see the little boy smile- Gina had a kind heart and a soul that lit up anywhere that she was.

She would make a wonderful mother and a loving mate. And I had wanted to thrash the idiot that she was seeing for the way that he treated her.

But this new development meant that I could change into my human form and begin to court her.

Yes things were going to get very interesting for Gina and me both.

I worried that she would reject me, but I refused to let that fear deter me. I needed to try.

"I need to formally introduce myself then" I bobbed at Roan & Mindren and they both nodded.

I swam out of view of the tank wall and shifted to my human form. Gina's guess about my height was accurate. I stood on my legs for the first time in months and stretched, it felt good.

I snagged my stashed clothes- they smelled worse than I had thought- and after slipping them on, left the aquarium.

I would use the mind link to find Gina and make sure that she was alright.

Then I would talk to Bridget about getting Gina some help.

Bridget knew about my kind, but she also needed to know the predicament that Gina was in.

I decided to head to Sacred Journeys first as I needed new clothes and a quick shower before first introductions.

I pulled my wallet out of my jeans and checked my debit card, phew; it didn’t expire till next year.

Now off to get new pants! Then to Gina.