‘So this is how it's going to end’. - this thought swirls around in your head as you feel yourself sinking deeper. The water is cold, and your limbs feel numb, tired, powerless. It’s getting darker. Sunlight is barely shining through the water surface above you. This ocean is going to be a very cold and very dark tomb for you.

You should have never agreed to this trip. But your friend said that it will do you good, that it will help you clear your head after the break-up. And well… to be fair, you enjoyed it. Scotland is beautiful. You just wanted to take a picture from up in the cliffs, and you slipped on wet rocks. And that was it. You fell into the ocean, and it swallowed you. Stupid way to die.

At least the last things you saw before dying were beautiful.

You close your eyes, accepting the cold embrace of the ocean.

And then something grabs your hand. You feel it’s pulling you up. Seconds later, you feel warm sunlight on your face. You open your mouth to take a breath, but there is only a sound of gargling water. You feel someone’s lips pressing against your own. They’re surprisingly warm. Finally, you cough up the salty water, and take a deep, painful breath. Panic sets in as the waves splash around you, but you realize that strong arms are holding you safely.

You look up, and you see a man. A man? When you swim towards the shore, you can swear there is a shiny tail with fins wiggling under the water surface. Maybe lack of oxygen is making you see things…? But you can still see the tail as you finally crawl onto the wet sand at the shore.

“Ye alright now?” the man asks in a deep voice, his accent rough. You just nod, wide-eyed, staring at the lower half of his body. You don’t even care if it’s rude to stare, because what the fuck?!

He laughs, running his hand through his messy, wet mohawk. “Never seen a selkie, eh? Guess yer not from ‘round these parts? Well, welcome to Scotland.” he flashes you a charming smile.