by John Heap
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
It had just gone four when Peter was woken by Maria muttering to herself. She felt very warm against him, a bit too warm, so he removed some of the duvet to help cool her down and carefully got up and made his way to the kitchen for some water.
On his return she appeared even more restless, and he could tell something was wrong even in the dim light from the hallway. He opened the door wider and was shocked by what he saw, one side of her face, the closest side to him, appeared red and swollen, her forehead beaded with sweat, whilst the rest of her face looked drawn and cold, bones visible through blue translucent skin.
‘It is too deep, too deep, I cannot go there!’
Still asleep Maria had started to shout. It took some time for Peter to wake her and then when she came around, she was confused and frightened; her eyes scanning the room attempting to recognise and remember where she was.
Eventually she settled and apologised saying ‘Sorry I woke you, was I very loud?’ she asked, ‘What was I saying?’
‘I was awake already,’ Peter replied then followed with, ‘but your face?’
She reached up and touched it gently and replied ‘It is tender, I suppose it looks terrible. As I said yesterday, one side is swollen whilst the other feels numb. Do not worry Peter it will subside soon, I just have to get moving, redistribute the fluids.’
She rose to her feet gingerly, and hobbled off to the bathroom.
He was making some coffee when Maria came to join him in the kitchen. She looked tired, but her face was much better and she had changed into her now dry jeans and t-shirt. As Peter handed her a coffee, she attempted to kiss him on the cheek, but somehow the easy friendship of last night had been replaced by an awkwardness that hung in the air about them.
They sat on opposite sides of the kitchen table, sipping their coffee quietly, each occupied with their own thoughts. Maria spoke first.
‘It is quite scary is it not, the physical stuff?’ She gestured to her face. ‘All the rest, the sea and the like, is easy to brush off, a state of mind, a depression, but not the swelling, that is rather too real’.
‘I’m sorry Maria, I’m tired.’ Peter took another slug of coffee, ‘Yes I suppose it was worse than I’d thought. Did it really coincide with the tide?
‘Yes and last night was a big one’.
She looked at Peter, who was just looking at his coffee, either vacantly or thinking things he didn’t want her to see, she suspected the latter. Perhaps filling the silence would stop him thinking too much.
‘I have tried to work it out, but it does not make much sense. You know all life has come from the sea? Well I get the feeling that my body, its blood, plasma, and whatever other fluids are in there, has forgotten it’s no longer part of the sea and that it is desperate to get back to it. I believe I am actually having tides within my body. ’
Maria was right; Peter was busy feeling sorry for himself, there was always a catch somehow, but he looked up after she had finished talking and not having paid much attention grunted noncommittally, and said.
‘If I’m to keep an eye on you, then we need to go and get some of your gear. Later though, we should wait till it’s light’.
‘I’m not holding you to anything you know.’ replied Maria and seeing no response went on. ‘And to be honest I would rather go back by myself, sort out what clothes I need, water the plants. It will take a few hours, so I would rather go now, I am over the worse and will not be affected again for a little while.’
‘Ok if you’re sure that’s what you want.’
‘Yes I am. A bit of space would do me good too, so I will see you soon ok?’, and without another word she grabbed her jacket and left.
