I still wait for the day when I can show the small beauties of life to someone, but there are no people like me in this vast world. Perhaps they exist, yet they must be distant, enjoying the same sky with other eyes yet the same thought.

I whistled with the birds that awaken from their sleep in the coconut trees, letting my vision be painted blue, yellow, and red. I glanced at the sun at the horizon. Perfect for the bloody sunset.

Yesterday in this isolated island, I found myself alone. A huddled heap of ripped skirt and torn sleeves, I sat alone and utterly terrified in the shore with the sound of the waves. 

I didn't know how I got here. I also didn't remember any past memories except for yesterday.

The sun is nearly setting and the same question lingers. What is the meaning of life? Why am I here? 

Waves caught my feet that brings relaxed sensation to the mind. Still, there is this feeling my guts tell since yesterday while ocean waves kissed my feet. I watch the sun set in hues of red making the ocean bloody.

The ocean shore is a gateway, a place where the aquatic and terrestrial worlds collide. With my fur less skin I could have belonged beneath the brine, had evolution taken a different fork. Then it would be I in the cool waters peeking at the dry world above, curious as to what lay on the land.

But my lungs are of a land dweller and my limbs cannot swim all day long. So it is for me to see the orange kissed sky with eyes better suited for life underwater, to see the rusty hues reflected in the blackening waves, while I yearn to explore the dominion of our aquatic cousins.

Another wave passed my feet. I felt something hard beneath my feet when that wave had passed. I looked down to see a golden, spiral shell and a lace circling around it.

I picked up the shell and wore it around my neck, hanging below my neckline. It's beautiful. My hands found its way to the golden shell. 

A minute or later engrossed with the necklace, a bottle hit my toe. Confused, I picked up the bottle that is sealed with a cork. The bottle is not transparent. It's the same color as the ocean.

I easily pulled out the cork but was thrown back when smoke surrounded me. With too much smoke, the ocean seemed to have a fog. Suddenly, a translucent, body man appeared, its tail was connected to the bottle.

"Magandang araw binibini, ano ang iyong kahilingan?" The genie offered his hand but I refused. For some reason I could understand the language he used. 

"Pardon?" I answered.

The genie laughed and in a snap, he showed a golden scroll in front of me. It has the same color as the necklace.

"Nakasulat sa mahiwagang papel na ito ang tatlong panuntunan. Una, bibigyan kita nga tatlong kahilingan at tutuparin ko. Pangalawa, hindi mo pwedeng gamitin ang mga kahilingan para sa iyon sarili, dapat para sa ibang tao. Pangatlo, uhm pag-isipan ko pa." The genie smiled and snapped his finger, the scroll disappeared, "So ano kahilingan mo?"

Wish? Even if I wanted to wish to have the knowledge for the purpose of my life and happiness, I can't. I also don't need material things because I am alone in this island with a genie.

"How can I wish for others if there are no people here?" I asked him. He put his hand underneath his chin and think.

"Kung gayon wala ka nang iba pang pagpipilian kundi ang hilingin ang kahilingan ko," he laughed then looked at me intently.

I got up from the sand and faced this enormous genie, "Then your wishes are useless! It is just a waste if I'll do it for someone else."

I turned away from him and walked the shore, still feeling the same loneliness and emptiness in life.

"Teka!" I heard him shouted. As fast as a lightning, he appeared in front of me. He really doesn't look scary at all. In fact, he looks kind.

"Sige na nga. Ito ang pangatlong panuntunan: Maaari mong gamitin ang hiling para sa sarili mo, basta ang iyong unang kahilingan ay para sa akin."

"So I can wish for anything?" 

"Oo, basta ang una mong kahilingan ay ang hiling ko." He smiled and fixed the cloth wrapped around his head.

"What's your wish?" I asked. The genie flew over my head and around me then playfully winked.

"Hilingin mong makawala ako sa sumpang ito," he uttered while floating around me, making my head dizzy.

"Curse? Then if you are free, you won't be able to grant my wishes?" I am starting to doubt the genie. He really seems nice but I think he is planning something.

I tucked my hair back as the wind coming from him, surrounding me, grew stronger.

"No, no my dear. Mahihiling ko pa iyan basta isulat mo rito." While spinning, he snapped his fingers again and a scroll floated in front of me.

The wind got stronger so I shouted at him, "Is it necessary to spin?!"

"Ay pasensya na." He stopped spinning and brought out a quilt in a snap then handed it to me, "Pag-isipan mong mabuti."

I got the quilt and wrote the first wish: Grant the genie's wish.

Once I wrote that, the genie's smile grew wider and his eyes flickered. Since I have no house and food, I think this could be a good wish. I wrote my second wish: I wish to have a home and in there are all things I need.

My lips formed into a thin line and think of my last wish. I went with my guts and wrote the last wish: I wish to be happy.

As the sun fully set, the genie clapped his hands, the scroll and the quilt from my hand disappeared, "Your wish is my command!"

In an instant the genie dispersed into golden pieces in the air, carried by the wind to the dark sky. I was left with an open bottle without a genie.

'Till then I waited. Waited for my wished to come true.

First Wish

The pure black of the night is my comfort, the blanket of generous velvet that keeps me safe. It is the pure black that makes the moon so beautiful, that makes a stage for her to stand upon. It is the pure black of the night that gives the stars their beauty, and in it my heart is safe, my soul serene.

Still, my life felt empty.

There is this need to for me to know my purpose. Why am I here in this isolated island? Why am I alone? Do I forever suffer alone? Why I don't see people?

I walked towards the large banana leaf I found yesterday and dragged it on the shore beside the bottle. From there, I lay watching the stars.

Even though they held such beauty, my loneliness and emptiness surfaced my emotions. Tears continuously flowed. I couldn't remember a thing. I couldn't remember how I was born.

Who were my parents? Did they leave me in this island? Why can't I remember anything? 

I could feel all emotions except happiness.

In an instant, the darkness of the sky was replaced by bright sunlight. It's morning again? From what I can remember yesterday, the duration of night is not this fast.

I looked to my right where the bottle sits. I picked it up and see through the whole. There's no one here except for a small red shell.

I blew the inside of the bottle and a creature went out of the shell. It's a small crab.

"Hi there, little fella!" I greeted as the crab crawled outwards the bottle. I put the bottle down and the crab went out. At least I got someone to talk to.

I held out my hand and the crab gladly climbed my hand, "Hmm, let me call you Sebastian."

I don't know where I got that name, but that's the first name I thought of. Wait, speaking of names - I don't have a name. 

The crab crawled to my fingers and pinched it, "Ouch!"

I threw away the crab as red liquid tricked down my fingers to my wrist. My first reaction is to sip the blood. Saltiness went down my throat, making it raspy.

"You're a bad crab! How can you be so mean?" I pointed at the crab, "I am a lonely woman and I want someone to talk to yet you pinched me?! How dare you!"

I picked up its shell and observed the crab. Its small legs wiggled. Its eyes plead and I have noticed that it held the same lonely eyes I have.

No, don't be emotional with this stupid crab.

I threw the crab onto the water and got up to go back to the mini forest of this island. But before I get up, my eyes lingered on the bottle. It slowly dispersed, the same how the stupid genie dispersed.

Now, the genie and the crab left me. Great, I'm all alone again. I should have wished for a person instead of a house. 

Second Wish

On my way to the mini forest, birds chirped but I am not in a mood to talk to them nor whistle with them. 

The forest was ancient. The trees thick and old, roots that were twisted. It might once have been filled with bird-song and animals that roamed. But now it was ages past its former glory. It's canopy was so dense that you could only see the occasional streak of sunlight that rarely touched the forest floor. Even its thick vines were slowly taking away the last remnants of the temple that stood in the center.

Across the forest's haze I saw a chimney.

Deep in those green woods, dipped down the hill, must live an isolated cottage with the facade of different grey hues. Deep in my heart I knew that this was second wish.

I went blindly towards the cottage's porch, blood pumping through my veins. I turned the knob and opened the rotted door, the creaking sound echoed inside the cottage, soon followed a strong wind, awakening its soul and mine.

I felt so at home!

The molded cracked walls shivered and yawned, the shattered windows rubbed their panes, the stair cases bombarded successive coughs, the scratched floor was quivering under my feet that oozed with rain, the boards soaking in the waters they'd needed for years, everything started feeling alive again but with pain and suffering with what had been abandoned and left to rust and decay.

They are like me - in pain, loneliness, emptiness. I gently started to tap on the walls, sympathizing with them.

In the center are rusty tables with fruits. However, I was not in the mood to eat. They look depressing. Everything in this house is depressing. 

The angry mood a while ago was changed into sadness. I guess I have to wait for my last wish which I longed and craved for.

In one of the cabins, I danced my fingers there until I felt a paper. The paper has the same texture and color of that scroll.

Written in it was the language used by the genie, "Hindi ka nabibilang sa bahay na ito." 

My eyebrows creased, maybe he's just here floating, "Hey genie! Where are you?"

None. I heard nothing.

"Genie?"

No one answered.

Third wish

I went back to the shore to take a small bath. 

The sand is the most gentle hue of gold, almost earthen and muted, the humble star of the scene. Then there is the seaweed, that flora of those salty waves, as deeply green as any high summer foliage.

The cool water laps at my feet, fizzing and bubbling like brine. Even though the sun is beating on my back, beaming in my eyes, I can't help but smile as the wind caresses my face. Waves ahead roar and roll down, crashing onto the shore with a soft hiss; peeling away at the deep bronze sand beneath my feet.

Is this what happiness feels like?

Without hesitation, I plunged into the blue-green water. A chill surges through me, but a small wave washes it away.

The thing about this ocean, this depression, the thing nobody is ever brave enough to tell, is that one must learn to swim to shore by itself. One must find the strength to climb onto the beach no matter how sharp the rocks are, or how they cut.

One must then learn to stay there and not fall into the comforting familiarity of the salt and the sensation of drowning. One must go through the agony of learning how to walk by itself. But when one has been through all that, he or she is free to find heaven, free to help others find their heaven, free to feel happy and become comfortable with that emotion for the rest of the days.

As so, I didn't possess that spirit of determination and happiness.

I let the water wash away my burdens in life. Burdens that I couldn't figure out nor explain at all. As I went deeper, my limbs felt numb. My body went dipper to the ocean that I can't feel the sand, but to my surprise my head was still above water.

I tried swimming back, but my legs kept on pulling me further from shore, "Help!"

I shouted for help multiple times but I know no one will help since I'm alone, "Genie! Crab! Help!"

As I got further, I felt waves pulled me deep into the water. I held my breathe as my body sank.

I tried reaching for the top to breathe but the water is still pulling me down. I looked beneath and was taken aback. 

I let out a shout, but then I realized I could breathe under water. I could shout under water. I then fixed my gaze to my legs. They are no longer legs. They are tentacles.

I have eight tentacles!

Waves pulled me down further and I encountered some sea creatures. They looked at me confusedly, yet others avoided me.

I reached the bottom of the ocean, under a small cave I hid.

In that cave, there are potions and bottles and also sea foods on the shelf made of stone. There is one bottle that caught my attention. It was the same bottle from the genie.

I quickly opened the cork but to my disappointment, no genie can be found. I looked inside, to find a scroll.

As curious as may seem, I pulled out the scroll and read the letter.

Magandang araw!

Ito ang iyong tahanan. Narito lahat ng mga kailangan mo. Dito ka nabibilang. 

Hindi ako tunay na genie. Sa katunayan isa akong manunulat. Ang iyong mundo ay akda ko, na pinamagatang, "The Little Mermaid."

Pasensya na kung malungkot ang buhay mo dahil ikaw si Ursula. Ikaw ang kontrabida sa aking akda. Wala kang mga alaala dahil ikaw ay isang tauhan lamang.

Sinumpa ako ng isang tunay na genie rito sa loob ng akda ko. Long story short, kailangang may magpalaya sa akin. Salamat sayo Ursula, gawa-gawa ko lamang ang mga panuntunan na iyon. 

Siguro kapag natapos ko ang aking akda, mae-edit ko ito at nawa'y ika'y lumigaya. Mahahanap mo rin kaligayahan mo sa pamamagitan ng pagsuklam sa iba kong mga tauhan. Mahalaga ka sa akin. Maraming salamat, Ursula.

~ Author G.

I wrapped the scroll and put it inside the bottle. So, I am not a true person?

Suddenly, two eels came to my cave and spoke, "Good day master!"

Those two eels handed me a mirror they are carrying. From there, I saw for the my face for the first time. My hair is white, I have a big mole near the lips. Half of my body is human and half of that octopus.

"Will I be happy now?" I asked them both.

They nodded, "Yes master," and put the mirror to one of my shelves.

At the center of my cave, there's a cauldron. My hands search for the bottles that have tiny creatures and potions inside then I poured it onto the cauldron. I can't control my body anymore. 

Into the cauldron go spider eyes, gun powder, sugared squid, newt legs, lizard guts, cat fur ball, frogs tongue, bat's brains, earwig's ears, grasshopper's legs, fairy wings, firefly's fire, copper's green coat, silvery fish scales, Octopus suckers, powdered bark of an ancient willow, nuggets of knee scab, hunk of horse hair, beetle droppings, ground unicorn horn, will powder, screech of an owl, stomach of an ant, sword of a swordfish, piranha teeth.

Pink smoke burst out of the cauldron. The product floated. It's a ball of glass. My I held the glass of ball and rubbed it.

From there, I saw mermaids, but one caught my eye. A red-haired mermaid that is longing for a man from land. Wow, she's in love with a human. 

I rubbed the ball once more and it showed their king. 

A sinister smiled administered my lips and a plan came to mind. In that instant, I felt complete. I felt happy. So, this is what happiness feels like - to help mermaids in need by my power to create potions and spells. But there has to be a payment.

Happiness is not an ideal of reason but of imagination, yet for me, happiness is not an 'ideal,' nor conjured by imagination, yet is a state of being that thrives when we are at peace within ourselves.

In this small cave with two eels, I am who I am.

So shall it stay put, a smile eternally stained upon my lips. My joy, my love, my laughter, my cheer. All will reach the ears of those who have forgotten the warmth of such harmonies. I will share it all. I will play life's song, the swelling symphony that can mend any broken heart. No mermaid will be left unsmiling.

I glued my eyes at the red-haired mermaid in my glass ball. She has friends - the small crab named Sebastian whom I threw and a yellow fish.

I sighed contently, "Oh what a poor unfortunate soul!"

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#PoorUnfortunateSoul