After all this time, I didn’t think it would be that memorable, as in, I would remember what happened to me all those years ago. Eight years, eight whole years exactly, from my birthday today, to my birthday back when I was seven. I was childlike, just overcoming the joys of childhood, to unearth what lay behind the happiness of life.. It was my seventh birthday, and I had no idea of what was about to happen.

“Oh, yes!” I shrieked, spreading out my arms and running towards the open blue sea. It was almost sunset, and I was with my twin sister and my parents at the beach.
“Hurry up, Mina,” my sister Mariko urged. “The water’s great.”
“I bet,” I muttered. Mari had always been the fastest runner, and even when I was running my fastest, I could never beat her.
“Cheer up.” She smiled.
I reached the water, and I stepped forward eagerly, feeling the water brushing my toes. It felt so wonderful, so cool and refreshing. I loved the beach. I paused before I dove in, looking down at myself. I was pleased with what I saw, and not in that way. It was because my mother had just bought me a new swimsuit, that was white, with glittering black edges and little kawaii pigs all over, with speech bubbles saying things like, “Arigatou!” or “Kawaii desu!” in a pretty silver font. Mariko had the same one.

“Hurry up, slowpoke,” Mari teased.
I hissed and jumped in, shivering at the water’s cool, wet touch.
“Mari?”
“Hmmm?”
“Oh, never mind,” I murmured, as I realized what I was about to say was way too embarrassing and Mari would never understand, despite Mari being my best friend and sister. “Come on.” I swam into the deeper waters, not waiting for Mari to follow.
That was the good thing. I was the faster in water.
She followed me slowly, taking two slow steps, then hesitated. “Hold on. Washroom,” she assured me. “Be back soon.”
“Right,” I said, nodding. I waited. I loved swimming, and I walked towards the glowing sun, shining a bright golden color, being swallowed up by the shimmering blue waves.

Without knowing, my bare foot hit a deep pit-y spot, and I went tumbling down, down below the calm waves, my pale-peach skin skidding along the ocean floor. The gritty texture of the sand made my skin burn, and without thinking, I opened my mouth and forced myself to breathe, hoping that I would find myself back on my parents’ beach towel, dry and warm and jubilant. At that moment, I forgot that I was underwater; all my water knowledge deserted me. The saltiness of the ocean’s water made me cough, and all I could focus on was to get the water out of my mouth. I was running out of air, and, with one last heave, all will to move was ripped out of me, my body suddenly feeling very heavy, and my head tipped to the side as a dizzying blackness took over what was once Mina Adachi.

~

I drifted in the clouds. More specifically, I drifted in the sunset clouds, well above earth. I jumped up, and as I did so, a delighted giggle escaped me, and I realized I had wings. Angel’s wings. I flew into the air, and landed delicately on the moon, where I was greeted by talking Hello Kitties and peaches with large, adorable eyes.

Wait... what the hell?

I shook myself, and I realized that I wasn’t in heaven after all. I was alone. I was surrounded by a cloak of darkness. I was in a tunnel, with no light except for the little dot of sunlight miles and miles away.
I forced myself to my feet and I walked.
“Mina!”
The spark of light grew bigger. Just slightly.
“MINA!!”
I knew the voice sounded familiar, but I couldn’t remember whose it was.
“Mina? That’s her name?”
I had no idea who that voice belonged to. Male, I think, and kind of gruff, but with a gentle edge.
“Yeah. Mina, can you hear me?”
The light grew bigger.
“No...!” A disbelieving cry.
Bigger. I was surprised at how fast I was moving.
“Is she alright?”
Even bigger.
“Oh, my goodness! Whatever happened?”
I knew that voice. That was my mother.
“Mariko Adachi, tell me what happened.”
My father.
I heard some strained whispers.
The light grew bigger.
“Oh, no, please, no! Minari! My... my dear Mina...”
A sob. More muffled sobs.
“Mina!” And urgent cry.
I was so close now to the light that it almost hurt. My eyes were blinded, and as I glanced up, I had to shield my eyes with my palm. Even then, I was reluctant to leave the darkness, it had something that seemed appealing to me...
“Well, when I saw her slip...”
It was that male voice again, which made me kind of excited... or whatever you call it.
I stepped out of the darkness and into the light.

Oh, great. More talking Hello Kitties and kawaii fruits. What was wrong with me?
That illusion lasted a second before I was torn out of my little fantasy and back into the real world.

~

“...I knew she was in trouble. So I went out and pulled her onto the beach..”
That male voice.
I had almost died, but I felt... almost glad. I felt kind of tingly, and my heart floated in my chest.
I opened my eyes, and as I took in the world it felt... almost new.
“Mari...?”
“Mina! What the heck were you doing? What happened?”
“I... I don’t know...” I managed.
My parents crushed me in a hug, saying how glad they were and to never do this again.
Well, like I could do anything about it!
The last one that I noticed standing above me was a young boy, probably somewhere around my age. He had dark hair that glinted in the sun, and his blue eyes were stunning. He made me feel almost self-conscious.
“Who...” I started, gazing up at this beautiful stranger.
“This is Donald,” Mari contributed.
“Duncan,” the boy corrected.
“Oh,” Mari said, blushing. “Sorry. Anyway, he’s the one who pulled you up.”
For some reason, that had me all tingly again.

“Duncan,” I whispered, trying it out. “Thank you.”
“No prob, sister.” He laughed as if nothing had happened.
I smiled. He grinned back, and his mocking smile made my heart swell.
“Well,” he said, standing. “I’d better go.”
My mother said, “Are you down here by yourself?”
“Yeah,” Duncan said, shrugging. “My dad wants me back early today,” he explained. “I come here almost every day.”
“Oh,” my mother said, smiling. “Such a nice boy!”
Duncan grimaced, obviously trying to be polite. “Erm... thanks. I’d better go.”
He started up the sand, and as my family turned to wave to him, his eyes found mine and he winked.

Even now, at fifteen, I remember that one day. I saw him again one day, when I was 12, at the beach, and Duncan was kicking down some kid’s sandcastle. If it was any other guy, I would have cared, but this was Duncan. For some reason, I thought it was kind of cute, kicking down a sandcastle. I was with Mari (as usual), and she noticed me watching him.
“What’s up with you?” She asked.
“S’nothing,” I mumbled, unable to take my eyes off Duncan.
“Him?” Mari had asked, surprise overwhelming her tone.
“No,” I muttered.
“Really? Him?”
“No.” I watched Duncan grin at a kid and flash his white teeth.
“You like Donald? That, like, totally n00bish kid?”
I didn’t reply. Partly because Duncan was strutting towards me.

Omigod. My heart pounded as he came nearer. I shivered.
He didn’t say much to me, he just grinned and winked and said, “Hey, Angel..” in a way so sweet I couldn’t do anything but blush and smile.
He didn’t say anything else, just walked past with Mariko staring, and I didn’t really wish for more, either.

That was enough. Enough... for now.

Hey dudes, it’s Mina! Mina’s my new fanfic character, btw.. Check out my Character Bio to learn more about her :D