Luminescent

It was a sunny day on the beach, one that was supposed to feel like any other. I was stretched out on the bench, the sun baking my shoulders as I savored the sweet chill of my snow cone. A shout tore through the warm air—“Luumi!! You’ve been sitting there forever. Come swim with us!” Lucas called from the surf. “Yeah, you’re missing everything—the water’s perfect!” Lyla added, laughter ringing. But my body tensed; the memory of that childhood accident at the water park clamped my chest. The thought of the water made my stomach churn. “Sigh, I’m good, I don’t swim... besides, I got this snow cone,” I muttered, hands tightening over the cup, uncertain.

My mother immediately noticed the shift in my expression and placed a gentle, warm hand on my shoulder. “Hey, you guys, don’t push her, you know how she feels about water!” Her words were a shield. Lucas and Lyla hesitated, concern flickering across their faces. “We’re right here, you won’t be alone,” Lucas said, softer this time. “It will be okay, we’ll stay close by,” Lyla added, giving me a determined flex of her arm meant to comfort. I forced a shaky smile, anxiety bubbling just beneath. My dad looked up from his sandcastle, eyes gentle. “You could always do sandcastles with me, just like when you were a youngin’.” His offer made me chuckle, easing me just a little. Gathering resolve, I finished the last bites of my snow cone, the cold a little numbing. I tossed the wrapper away, heart racing, and stood up. With a deep, trembling breath, I approached the water. “Ok, ok... fine, I’ll try swimming with you guys, but you’re gonna have to teach me,” I said, the words quivering as I edged into the surf.

My siblings flanked me, making sure not to leave my side. “It’s really easy once you get the hang of it,” Lyla assured, her grip grounding me. Above us, the sun began to paint the sky gold and orange, but the growing pressure in my chest tightened till I barely noticed. When my siblings released me, the water reached my chest. I froze. “Try to swim a little by yourself. We’ll be right next to you,” Lucas exclaimed. Panic exploded as I sank, curling tight. “I can’t do it, I don’t like this!” My pulse roared in my ears. Suddenly, as I went under, the ocean seemed to swirl higher, trapping me in a bubble of water. “Lumi?!” “Lumi, where are you?!” My siblings’ voices broke with fear, bringing my parents running to the shoreline.

Before my parents could reach my siblings, the bubble surged upwards out of the ocean, went onto the beach, and dissipated. That revealed me curled up in a ball with blue-tinted scales down my face, neck, and side. My hands trembled as I stared at them, not recognizing what I was seeing. The ocean felt like it was listening to me-felt my fear.

I was coughing up water when my family came rushing towards me. “Lumi, are you ok?” my mother cried as she held me. “I was drowning! I couldn’t breathe” I sobbed. My dad grabbed my hands. “Look at me. Breathe in through your nose, out through your mouth. I’m right here.” While all of this was happening, my siblings were stunned by their surroundings. The sky was golden yellow with orange sparkly swirls, and other families on the beach were experiencing similar accidents. “W-what is happening!” Lyla yelled out. Some families had their children grow wings out of nowhere.

“This isn’t just Lumi”