I took the mermaid from Claire and swam to the surface. As I resurfaced I helped the mermaid on board and then I boarded. I filled an empty tub up with sea water.
"Claire bring the mermaid to the tub," I said. No answer. "Claire are listening to me?" I asked. I walked around the boat. "I asked if you could-," I stop suddenly. As I looked around I noticed that Claire wasn't on the boat. "Maybe she's still sightseeing," I said to myself.
I went over to the mermaid and helped her into the tub of seawater. After I did that a thought crossed my mind. "SHIT! HOW COULD I FORGET THAT SHE ONLY HAD TWO MINUTES WORTH OF AIR LEFT IN HER TANK!" I yelled furiously.
I ran to the edge of the boat looking for her in the water. I called for Claire, but there was no sign of her. I scanned around the water. As I was looking I noticed some bubbles coming up.
"SHIT!" I yelled. I panicked as I tried to get my stuff. I wouldn't know what to do with myself if something happened to Claire. A tear shredded down my face. I hurried and grabbed my snorkel when I heard the mermaid murmur something, "CuT....cHaiNs.....cUttInG....CUTTING..."
Is she talking about the chain cutters? Why would I need those? I had no time to question what she said. I grabbed the cutter and dove straight into the water. I looked around for Claire and spotted her on the sea floor where the boulder had fell. I noticed that there were three chains wrapped around her right leg.
There was no movement coming from her what so ever. Just as I suspected, she ran out of air in her tanks. I swam as fast as I could to her. When I got to her I noticed that she was running out of breath, fading in and out. Without thinking I locked lips with her and shared my air. After assurances of Claire being ok, I hurried to the chains and snapped each one like a tooth pick.
I grabbed Claire by the arm and swam her to the surface. We resurfaced and Claire took a huge breath into her lungs and out getting her pulse back on track. I got out of the water and helped her board the boat.
She got out of her gear and I gave her a few towels to dry off with. She looked at me and gave me a big hug and said, "thank you so much Andrew. I don't know what I would've done if you hadn't noticed that I wasn't back yet from the dive. I don't ever want you to leave my side because who knows, I might end up in another situation where you have to play hero again."
"No problem Claire. I love you and I won't ever let anything happen to you," I replied back. "Good to know Andrew. I love you too," she said.
Looking at her in that half dead state makes my heart shatter into a million pieces, but seeing her here alive now makes me want to kiss her and tell her how I truly feel.
Judging from today's experience, you only have one shot at life and it's a true blessing when God hands out second chances.