Lady of the Lake

Word Count: 662

Lady of the Lake

Marilyn stared out at the lake view in front of her. Sailboats were out in full force today; laughter came to her on the breeze and she smiled, though the expression didn’t light her eyes.

Marilyn wasn’t her true name. It was just what he called her. She couldn’t remember six weeks ago, let along six months ago or even six years ago. Ethan had found her washed up on the beach one morning while he was out jogging and had taken her in.

Marilyn leaned against the doorframe, the breeze rippling her short white sundress. She didn’t jog with Ethan because even walking was a bit uncomfortable. Ethan had laughed at her first efforts, teasing her about her land legs. He tried to encourage her to get out and enjoy the sunshine and the beach, but Marilyn felt more comfortable remaining in Ethan’s spacious lakefront house.

The décor had become familiar to her in the few short weeks since her arrival. She delighted in the fresh aroma of the flowers situated on the porch. Her dress felt uncomfortable against her skin, but Ethan insisted that she remain dressed during the day; especially when she stood visible in the open doorway.

Every day, Ethan caught her staring out at the lake with a longing she couldn’t explain. The water, of course, looked cool and refreshing and it was a clear blue all the way to the bottom, but that didn’t explain the reason for her fascination.

She would stare out there for hours, if Ethan let her.

“The water calls to me,” she whispered in a daze.

Perhaps I should go for a walk, Marilyn thought. It would be good to stretch her legs. The house felt lonely and empty without Ethan there.

She made it halfway to the beach before she realized she’d forgotten to slip on her sandals, but the clear blue water drew her on. Her chin-length white-blonde hair blew about her face. It felt freeing to be going somewhere without Ethan. She only wanted to sink her bare feet into the sparkling sands of the beach.

Her steps were a little unsteady. Someone watching her pick her way down to the beach might have thought she was just learning to walk. Her slow and careful steps looked like those of a toddler. The water called to her until the gentle waves were the only sounds that registered. The boats’ sails snapped in the wind, but Marilyn no longer noticed the boats nor the happy sailors that crewed them.

She stopped at the edge where the land met the water and gazed at the waves with mesmerized fascination. She could hardly breathe. The warm water lapped at her feet, causing a tingling sensation that felt somehow familiar. Forgotten memories niggled at the back of her mind, refusing to emerge into the light. Perhaps more of the water would trigger her memories.

Marilyn took a dreamy step forward. Another niggle. She took another step, causing a definite tug at the back of her mind. The water caressed her ankles. She moved forward until the water reached her knees and here, she paused. In a dazed fog, she removed her dress and threw it back to the shore, uncaring if it cleared the water. She wouldn’t need it anymore. Vague thoughts of completely submerging herself in the clear blue water formed. The water held a direct key to her memories, she felt. She started moving forward with a purpose. The water rose to her hips and then past her chest until it touched her chin.

“Marilyn!” A frantic shout caused her to turn her head before it disappeared into the water.

No. That wasn’t her name. She remembered her name now.

“I am Cydreme.”

To Ethan, the name she shouted back to him sounded like Sea Dream. Then there was the flip of a tail and she was gone, leaving him with nothing but her dress and the memory of her.

This story won 2nd place in:

ID: 1101926   (Rated: ASR) A Picture Is Worth A 1000 Words Contest  Write a story in 1000 words or less to a given picture prompt. [Hiatus!] by iKïyå§ama