A long awaited greeting
“..M-Mom…” Daniel stammered out the word as the selkie smiled at her, slowly holding out her arms for an embrace; and Daniel was quick to deliver, wrapping her arms around the fellow selkie and hugging her as tightly as she could, burying her face in his mother’s chest. She wanted to cry out of joy, but who knew how tears worked underwater? The familiar warmth, her scent, her smile, her face - Daniel remembered all of it when she was a child. Everything about her that had once been a forgotten memory was right here, in front of her. This really was her mother, a selkie, cursed to live a human life, escape it, and cope with the grief of a child she’d left behind.
“My sweet, sweet child..Daniel…it’s been so long.” Her mother cooed softly, her voice soothing and gentle on the ears, a voice Daniel had heard so long ago, singing lullabies as a toddler and melodies when she was curled up in her crib. “It’s really you...I didn’t know about any of this, had I known I would’ve come sooner, I-”
“Shh..it’s alright. I’m glad you found out. It took longer than I expected but..it’s better now than never.” Daniel’s mother replied softly, a warm smile curling at her lips as Daniel finally released her from the tight embrace; the young selkie’s eyes glowed with overwhelming happiness. “But no matter what, I knew you’d return to me. My wishes, my hopes, and my prayers..they’ve all come true. I have my child back, your friends were true to their word...they promised me they’d remind you of your origins someday. I’m so sorry I couldn’t take you with me...forgive me.” The hint of sadness in her mother’s tone was unacceptable for Daniel; she shook her head promptly, her smile softening.
“Don’t be sorry. It’s okay, I...I understand. All of this is so crazy and weird and...look, I get it. You had no choice. But what matters is I’m here, right?” Her child’s words brought a sense of comfort to the selkie as she nodded, gently running her hand through Daniel’s hair, the other cupping her child’s cheek. “Of course..that’s what matters. My, how you’ve grown; I see you’ve adapted to your true form. You know, by wearing that coat..if you remove it, you’d look just like me when I was younger, just as you look now, but human.” Daniel’s mother informed gently, stroking her child’s cheek with a finger before she withdrew both her hands, letting them drop to her side.
“Really? Well...I believe you. I don’t wanna take it off anytime soon, mom. The whole girl thing is kinda weird but I’ve gotten used to it by now.” Daniel reassured, smiling as he heard his mother chuckle in response, turning away and digging through a drawer made from rock and coral against the wall.
“I know it’s strange, but in the many years you were gone, I managed to make a replacement coat. I kept it all this time, hoping and praying for the day you’d return to me. Consider it a long overdue gift; this will turn you back into your male self, Daniel. Just in case you ever feel the need to return to it.” The adult selkie carefully pulled out a pristine, white coat that had been folded neatly in the drawer, similar to the one that Daniel had found back at home. Curious, Daniel looked on as her mother held the coat out - she accepted it in her arms, his fingers running gently through the incredibly soft white fur, stroking it in wonder for a good long moment - her mother made this, just for her.
Written by monochromecheshire on 27 August 2017
