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Myna stood on the beach, unable to comprehend what the evidence seemed to tell her.
Ebba had gone. She’d taken Myna’s skin—she’d been able to use Myna’s skin! And now she was out there, gambolling among the waves with Wayanna.
After Ebba had left, Ronan had led Myna to the cave, showing her the now empty ledge where he’d hidden her skin all these years. They followed the path back to the shore, noting the sections of flattened grass where Ebba had rested her bundle, the deep groove in the sand where she’d dragged it.
Even when they found Ebba’s discarded clothes Myna couldn’t bring herself to believe it. Not until she saw the two seals, not one, stop their play at her call and turn to look at her before deliberately swimming away, did the reality sink in.
‘She’s gone.’
At her words Ronan reached out and wrapped an arm around his wife.
‘I should never have showed her where it was. I had no idea she could even use it.’
‘Neither did I.’ Myna forced a smile as she reached up to squeeze his hand.
‘Are you all right?’ he asked.
Myna squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them again. ‘It’s what children do, isn’t it? Grow up, move out.’ She tilted her face to kiss her husband. ‘It’s all right. It’s as it should be.’
‘Is it?’ Ronan didn’t seem so sure, but as the two bobbing heads disappeared in the distance Myna realised it was. She felt lighter than she had in years. No longer did the sea pull at her as it always had, no longer was she fighting the desire to dive in under the waves. Whatever Ebba had done when she had taken the skin, it had done one thing.
It had set Myna free.
