Sea Change
Prelude:
I am slowly writing a novel based on the Femnarlia, but to get the creative juices flowing I am mucking around with short stories in the meantime. ‘Sea Change’ is set long after Sofia has met the Femnarlia (I’m really just plonking the reader right in the middle here). At some stage I will share in greater depth who these incredible women are, including their mythical history, traditions, creatures and of course their beautifully mysterious environment. This piece introduces two of the Femnarlia tribe, twin sisters, Lamarn and Saharn who are one hell of a dynamic duo. Next post I will dive into the world of Femnarlia and a few more lovely ladies will pop up as the story continues. I hope you enjoy it. Xx
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‘Do you even know who I am!’, she yelled, ‘I have over 10,000 followers. Within minutes I can destroy your name.’ Leaning down she growled, ‘How about you make this baby shower card as I asked or I’ll have you fired.’
Fuming, I wanted to face kick this woman’s perfectly fake blonde curls across the creative department floor, but the ‘client’s always right’ they say. FUCKKKKKKKKKKK!
‘Okay we will fit it in between the other five major brand campaigns we have going for free’, I replied with a smart ass grin.
‘Don’t give me attitude. I’ll be speaking to the head of corporate about this,’ she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder as she marched out in her red Manolo’s.
I couldn’t get all of today’s bullshit to stop replaying in my head as I approached the water’s edge.
‘Just breathe,’ I whispered to myself.
My thoughts were spiralling out of control, cramming my vision with a dark muggy cloud I couldn’t see beyond. Closing my eyes, I let the calm rhythm of the waves ripple over my feet as I sunk gradually further into the soft grainy sand. I repeated my daily ritual of three long, deep breaths before opening my eyes again. I began walking out into the crystal clear blue waters as the ocean wrapped herself around my legs, slowly pulling me deeper and deeper into the waves. Hesitant, I wanted to dive under, but the cold salty water held my body back.
‘Let go,’ I repeated to myself over and over.
Taking a deep breath, I dived into an oncoming wave before it had the chance to slam into my face. Relief hit me almost instantaneously as I surfaced. Fuck that felt amazing. Relaxing, I began to forget the realities of the world as I drifted effortlessly in the oceans currents inhaling her salty breath.
‘Ahhh! What the hell!’ I screamed.
Flailing upright, legs dangling into the depths of the ocean, I panicked as something brushed my side. Looking down I started to see dark shapes circling towards my feet that were approaching fast. Within moments I was surrounded by long, floppy rabbit and oversized elephant ears. Exhaling with relief, I realised it was Saharn and Lamarn.
I hadn’t seen the twin sisters since my anxiety attack down by the lake six months ago. They are not of this world. When you first meet the Femnarlia it is quite overwhelming simply for the fact they look like rather strange creatures. Each different, but similar in that they all have human female bodies, except no heads. Above their boobs animal ears protrude and can vary greatly. The twins could be differentiated easily as Saharn has enormous elephant ears that adorn her body, whilst Lamarn has beautiful fluffy rabbit ears that are over a meter long. The women’s bodies are decorated in a style of war paint that looks like what we would perceive to be tattoos, but they are born that way I had been told. The tattoos are like birth marks, maps of their ancestral origins. Each completely different, but in subtle ways. As they don’t have heads, the women have eyes instead on their boobs. Great, big, beautiful eyes with piercing colours and oozing patterns. The exciting part, however, is how they speak. Their mouths are situated on their vaginas, which makes for interesting conversation. Not only do they speak from there, the women also menstruate from this same area. Sometimes they cover their mouths with ornamental props. Today the twins were sporting decorative seashells.
Still flustered, I paddled about trying to regain my bearings as the twins settled beside me in the water.
‘Holy shit! You both scared the hell out of me!’ I shouted.
‘Well, it’s lovely to see you too, Sofia,’ Saharn said.
‘OMG! Sofia! Where have you been?’ Lamarn squealed, as she splashed about.
‘Breathe Lamarn. I’ve just been stuck at my shitty job.’
‘Hasn’t changed, hey?’ Saharn asked.
‘Nope. Same old politics and drama. Dealing with bad attitudes. Worst part is my anxiety is sky high and I just cannot for the life of me relax. I feel like I’m on constant over drive.’
‘Get a new job,’ Lamarn said as she glided around us.
Lamarn can be frustrating. She thinks there is always a simple solution to anything. Just change jobs. Like there are a million out there to choose between. She’s lucky in that she doesn’t have to be a part of the real world. I wish I could be with the Femnarlia every day, but reality always drags me back.
Relaxing myself once more into the water, I replied, ‘Easier said than done. I’ve tried looking, but I am just so over this corporate bullshit. I want out, but I don’t know what to do with my life.’
‘What do you love to do? Like, absolutely love to do,’ Lamarn asked.
‘Honestly, I love being an artist. Just creating, but no one will pay for that.’
Leaning back, Saharn spread out her giant elephant ears across the water like giant lilos. I glided over and lay across them, floating with the rhythm of her breath.
‘You never know. Maybe someone will pay you. How will you know if you don’t even try?’ Saharn replied.
‘I don’t know where to start. It feels so overwhelming some days. Like, I need art to process my own demons. It’s therapy I guess, but then to think of it as a career is confusing.’
‘Then don’t. Just create. Share what you do with others alongside your current job and just see where it takes you. I know it’s not easy, but you can’t spend a lifetime torturing yourself. That’s no way to live.’
Lamarn propped herself up as she swished her floppy rabbit ears from side to side playfully. I noticed her eyes poking out from her breasts giving me a cheeky smile.
‘Oh no, what are you thinking?’ I said sitting up.
‘There is only one fix for this! You need to clear your mind and heal your soul. I think we need to take you back to Femnarlia!’
‘I don’t have the time Lamarn.’
‘She’s right. You need to come back to Femnarlia with us this weekend. Just take the Friday off. You need to heal. How else will you clear your head with all that racket,’ Saharn said as she pointed back towards the shore.
I felt trapped by my job. Could I take Friday off? A day wouldn’t hurt. I wanted to say yes, but the words wouldn’t come out. I closed my eyes.
‘You know what, fuck it! You’re both right. Let’s do a trip to Femnarlia this weekend, but only for three days. Not like last time!’, I said.
‘HA! I forgot about that. Wasn’t it like three months? We had sooooo much fun!’, Lamarn squealed as she splashed her arms about.
Rolling my eyes I replied, ‘Mmmhmmm. I won’t lie. I seriously needed that break, but please let’s just keep things a little simpler this time.’
‘I will make sure you return in time,’ Saharn reassured me.
‘Thanks, I trust you. Lamarn on the other hand…’
‘HEY!’
‘Sofia isn’t wrong Lamarn.’
‘Yeah yeah, you’re just jealous I’m the fun one.’
‘Mmmm you tell yourself that sister.’
‘Okay okay before this gets out of hand I will see you both on Friday afternoon back out here and we go from there?’ I suggested.
‘Sounds like a plan!’ Larman replied as Saharn nodded in agreement.
‘Well, I should be heading back. Thanks for listening to me rant. Now to just get through two more days of hell.’
‘Breathe. Remember it’s just a job. Don’t let their voices get into your head,’ Saharn said.
‘I’ll try.’
We made our way back to the shore together riding the waves. As my feet hit the sand I walked in between Lamarn and Saharn towards the beach. Slowly, their bodies faded as I approached the realms of reality. Looking back, I smiled knowing I would see them soon. The Femnarlia had changed my life. They had injected the wild back into my veins.
TO BE CONTINUED...
