You were walking along the beach, the night air cool and crisp, whipping your shirt and shorts. The sound of laughter, coming from behind a rock, drew you in. You were careful not to make much noise. Gripping the rock you hoisted yourself above it. Your feet had found small ledges to grip.

The moon shone bright and full down on a myriad of young women. They were dancing, hands joined and giggling. One of them caught your attention. She had beautiful long hair, a figure that none of her friends had, and her smile was the widest. Your face turned red as it dawned on you that these women were naked! You ducked behind the rock, shifting your grip. After a few deep breaths and a generous dollop of rationalizations, you peeked over the rock. You sighed. She was beautiful.

The sun crept up on the dancing women. You watched as they walked over to a strange pile of rocks. One by one they each pick up a rock. The first few take running leaps into the ocean. Brown and speckled seals break the waves where they splashed. You turn your attention back to the girl you’d been watching.

Without giving yourself time to think, you jumped over the rock, stumbling on numb legs. The few remaining girls screeched and ran into the surf, diving under the ocean’s surface. You grabbed the rock, shocked to find that it isn’t a rock at all; It’s a slippery piece of rubber that has a slight coat of short, soft hair. The sound of the girl sinking to her knees in the sand makes you look down. Why is she on her knees?

You stared at her for a moment before kneeling down in front of her. You stuffed the rubber in your back pocket. The others grabbed this strange fabric and lept into the water, and seals came up where they’d disappeared. Maybe grandma knows where she came from.

You stood, blushing. You held out your hand to the girl. When she took it and stood, her head hung low you took your shirt off, offering it to her. She looked at you, smiling before taking your shirt and slipping her arms through it. You turned to her, your expression serious. “I’ll take good care of you. You won’t want for anything.”

The sun was rising as you opened the door to your grandmother’s blue painted ocean front cottage. You turned to the girl, pressing a finger to your lips in warning. She nodded, smiling at you. You led her around the corner of the entryway and into the kitchen. A voice called out your name. “Is that you?” It called again. “Yeah, it’s me, grandma/”Your grandmother stood at the stove, a shawl draped around her shoulders. “I made your favorite!” You could hear the smile in her voice.

She turned to face you, a plate in her hand. She stared at the girl behind you. Her mouth fell open as the ceramic plate hit the floor. “Do you know what she is?” You blinked, surprised. “A girl?”

Your grandmother stepped over the broken plate, walking past you and the girl. You followed her down the hall and into her bedroom. She opened the wooden chest at the end over her bed, and started taking articles of clothing out and tossing them on the bed. She stood a few moments later a long blue dress in hand. She turned to the girl and gave her the dress. “Go into the bathroom and change into this,” She said, pointing to the bathroom on the other side of her room. The girl looked at you. You smiled and nodded. She smiled back and walked into the bathroom. When the door closed your grandmother took you by the arm back into the kitchen.

“That girl is a selkie! You brought a selkie into our home!” Her face was furious. Your head tilted in confusion. “What’s a selkie?” She grabbed the piece of fabric, waving it in your face.

“This is her seal skin! She’ll need it to get back to the sea! That’s where she came from!” She stared at you for a long moment before sighing. “Just like your father…” You frowned. Your father had died in a boating accident a few months after your mother disappeared. “She’ll leave if she finds that skin. Just like your mother.” Your grandmother opens the pantry, grabbing the broom and dustpan, and starts to sweep.

You stand there, slack jawed. “My mother was a selkie?” Your grandmother dumps the broken plate into the trash, shaking her head. “Yes. They usually find their skin and return to the sea; That or their children bring it to them-”

“You mean that coat I brought to her was a seal skin?” Your grandmother nods. Your eyes start to sting. A hard lump forms in your throat, sinking down to your stomach. Please don’t let her leave me. I couldn’t handle it if she did. Hot salty tears slid down your cheeks. “What do I do? I don’t want her to leave me!”

“Hide the skin. Better yet, let me take it and I’ll hide it.” Your grandmother’s voice was soft. Her hand rubbed soothing circles on your back. You shook your head, standing. “No. I’ll hide it. She is my responsibility now. It’s my job to make her happy.” Your grandmother nodded. She looked up, smiling. “You look so pretty!”

You looked up. The selkie stood just inside the doorway of the kitchen, her hands hanging at her side. Her dress was just above knee length; It was navy blue with an off center slit that had navy and white striped fabric. Five white buttons came to her waist. The bodice of her dress was white and navy striped, short sleeved, and a short sailor’s collar with two white buttons.

You held your hand out, smiling. The selkie stepped forward, and took your hand. Things might turn out alright.