Third Summer

I waited there in the knee-deep water. I had expected the Others to descend upon me from the skies. Instead, something else floated down to land near me.

A little tiny ornate box floated in the water. I could see it was red with little gold-painted flowers.

I picked it up with two fingers and carefully pried the lid off. Inside I found a bottle of something golden and a little note:

Drink this and remember who you are.

I felt a wave of confusion crash over me.

I knew who I was...

Then it came to me all at once. I had turned three, and this was the gift I needed. The sky goddess had come through to me when I needed it most.

Almost too eagerly I tried to unscrew the lid of the bottle. Finally, after sloshing a few drops of the precious potion into the sea below I got it undone.

I looked to the skies as I raised it to my lips.