Submerged
Amelina sat herself on the waters edge, dressed in her nightgown she dipped her feet off of the dock, letting her feet meet the cold waves. For a moment she sat in silence before slipping completely off the edge and wading by the edge, the sharp coldness met her like a harsh slap and caused her to shiver, but she could not pull herself out. Floating for a moment she moved herself to her back, her body rocking with the waves as she stared up at the stars.
Calmness took over the woman as she closed her eyes. As she opened them all the woman saw was red. The stars were no longer and the moon gone, a red sky filled her sight as the feeling of a hundred hands crawled over her skin. The hands began pushing, pushing Amelina underneath the water and holding her there. Their nails dug viciously into her skin and she thrashed underneath the water, screaming and letting the water fill her lungs…
Just as the water began filling her lungs, Amelina shot up in bed, her forehead covered in sweat. She reached first for her stomach and then for her throat. Breathing heavily she ran a hand over the empty spot in her bed, sighing as she remembered that Rodrigo was still at the clinic healing. Rising from her bed she crossed to the dressing screen and pulled a simple dress on and some flats, not worrying for her outwardly appearance.
Once outside the breeze cooled her face down and she began on her way to the cathedral, unsure of what she planned on doing and why she was going there in the first place. Her guards and her husband would scold her for going on her own at such a late hour, but she felt compelled to do such. She matched her steps on the cobble path so that her feet never stepped on a crack, much like a child would until the glow from the cathedral's candles began illuminating her face.
Many times she walked down the grand aisle, but this time was different. No feelings of excitement to see her husband at the end of the aisle, no feeling of intrigue for whatever might happen. Amelina only felt confusion and this feeling only strengthened as she trailed her eyes from the holy water basin to the Dais in all of its glory. Her brows furrowed as she began stepping up closer, taking in all of it's might thought not daring to step any closer than she should.
A million questions ran through her head as she peered from each pillar. "Why had the Dais rejected her?" "What was she doing wrong?" "Would she ever be allowed to stand upon the Dais?" As these questions swam through her brain she dropped to her knees, partially in defeat and partially in prayer. She was never one to pray on her own, but in this moment she could not stop. Her words came spilling from her lips. An apology for the things she had done, an apology for the people she had hurt, an apology to her family, to the people of Lorhauser, and even an apology to her deceased parents. She wanted forgiveness, but she knew it would not be given so easily and that the Spirit could very easily reject anything she said. Amelina rose from her knees and wiped at her face, not realizing she began to tear up. She moved over to the basin of holy water, dipping a finger in and drawing a Unionist eye on her forehead. She stared at her reflection for quite some time before making the long walk back down the aisle.
As she exited the cathedral rather than going home she made her way to the waters next to the cathedral, a place her and her husband walked many times before their marriage. She came to the docks, slipping her shoes off before sitting down. With her knees up to her chest she stared out over the water with a sigh. She perhaps was not a changed person after tonight, but she knew she wished to be different in more ways than one. With her final thought she lowered her knees and slipped her feet into the water, letting the cold waves hit her feet…
