It had been an extremely long, tiring day for you. Work had constantly bit you in the ass, making stress hit you like a tidal wave without warning. All you wanted to do was return back to your lonely home and go to sleep. When you heard the familiar, empty echo of your door creaking open, you let out a sigh of relief. Finally, peace and quiet.

The click clack of your shoes soon ended as you haphazardly kicked them off in different directions, too tired to put them away properly. You were off tomorrow anyway, so it didn't matter if you wouldn't find them again in the morning. After that, you lazily stumbled across the house until you reached the bathroom. Not much occurred in there, just a rushed nighttime routine. The sooner you finished, the sooner you could get to bed.

A sense of utter euphoria washed over you as your head plummeted into the beloved airiness of your pillow. Heaviness weighted down on your eyelids, and finally—after dealing with noisy crowds and messy cleanups all day—you could rest.

Your eyes fluttered open slowly as you felt your body drifting. When your eyes fully opened, you scoped out your surroundings. The first thing you see is coral, lots of it. Schools of bluestripe snappers swam by in large numbers, with a few straying off from their groups to peck at wandering crabs. Their bright yellow bodies contrasted with the strange pink and red hues of the coral, creating a diverse array of colors. More and more color seemed to emerge into the landscape as you noticed different creatures appear onto the scene. A hawksbill turtle caught your attention next, the aquatic reptile swiftly swimming past you to nip at some coral. Unfortunately, the turtle got farther and farther away as the water's current slowly carried you away like a helpless strand of kelp.

Your body drifted leisurely through the water, seemingly for an endless amount of time. Earlier in the voyage, you floated through a kelp forest, attracting the attention of a few harbor seals. They were the only critters that acknowledged you thus far, and actively followed you, their glistening gray pelts playfully darting around you. As absurd as it seemed, it was almost like they were guiding you towards something. Judging by the sudden change in pace and environment, that very well could be true.

The group of seals slowly dispersed, keeping their distance as the water around you stilled. You wondered why they backed away, that was until a large shadow swept over you. Two enormous hands surrounded you, ominously cupping your minuscule form.

A monster, surely it had to be a monster. But it was no such thing. It was a woman, a true beauty. Her very essence looked as if it were made up of the shimmering waters that swirled around you. You couldn't help but reach out to her, and that's when everything faded to black.

Cold sweat dripped down your form as you abruptly awakened from your slumber. That dream again, of course. It was reoccurring, which wasn't unpleasant, considering it often soothed you for some reason. The beautiful ocean scenery and calm waves, but most importantly, that woman. She was a key part of the dream, and it always ended when you reached out to touch her. Maybe you just needed to clear your head. Perhaps a walk on the beach would help.

Sand sticks to your bare feet as you walk, caking them in the beige molecules. That was definitely gonna be a hassle to clean off later, but you just wanted to relax for now. Carefully, you stepped around the makeshift barriers scattered around the beach. They were made to protect the sea turtle eggs that were buried beneath the sand, ensuring the eggs had a chance to hatch. You luckily managed to avoid them, successfully making it to the water. An exhale left you as the chilly water splashed against your skin, temporarily washing away the clumps of sand. All was well until you noticed a figure perched on the rocks nearby, gazing up at the moon. Weird, you didn't think anyone else would be out here this late.

Hesitantly, you approached the rocks, the water giving away any chance of stealth.

The figure obviously noticed you, and turned its head to face you.

"Hello?" Her soft voice called out, practically beckoning you like a sweet melody.

It was the woman from your dreams.