The Water Palace

The girl smiles to herself as she twirls and spins on the steps in the water. Her feet kick into the water at either side as she gracefully moves with the music in her head. The wind beats against her legs, forcing her in rapid motions across the steps, moving her hips along with the imaginary music and letting her hands submerge into the water when she dips. As she comes back up, the sun hits an angle above the water palace, bestowing its light upon the building and adding an enchanting air.

The water palace was a magical palace and had always spawned a deep wonder in the girl. The grand building set in the middle of a body of water, emerging out of nothing. Its waterways and walkways connected, letting people walk amongst the water and enjoy its majesty. It felt a world away from the chaos of hectic city life. Time seemed to suspend here, as if it knew to stay just past the gates.

Water droplets land like little sprinkles against her skin, refreshing her and pushing her into more elaborate steps. As the music in her head reaches its precipice, she spins faster along with the beat. Her head snaps from side to side as she ensure her feet land gently just at the edge of each step. Her spins gain momentum, the win picks up her hair and blurs her face. If anyone were to look her way, all they'd see was a smooth undulating body almost fighting with the air. But she wasn't fighting. She was free.

Her spins become more brisk as she reaches a break in the steps, designed to let geese pass and wander. Her breath picks up and her heartbeat quickens. Her bare feet were rubbed raw against the cement steps, but still she spins, still she dances.

As her feet finally hit the edge, she throws her arms out to the side, halting and keeping herself from falling into the steady stream of water.

The wind pushed angrily against her back, probing and prodding at the obstruction that wouldn't let it continue its journey through the air. It was a strong wind, the kind that could pick you up and deposit you wherever it pleased. As she brings a hand to push her hair back from her face, she feels a small splash of water at her feet. Her head snaps to the side to see a bird dipping its wingtips into the water for a brief moment, its wings never faltering in their beating, before taking off as smoothly as it came.

She heaves out a huge breath, her feet resting calmly on the step and the strain in her legs fading. Her hair spins back in front of her, the strands creating a dance of their own with their dance partner, the wind. The thick tresses weaved in and out of her vision, just as she was doing moment earlier.

Her feet push up onto their toes and her arms move to up and point out from her sides. A perfect position for free-falling, and submersion.

She looks out at her surroundings. The water undulates and splashes against the stones of the walkways. The geese flow seamlessly from one place to another. The other people walking peacefully along the steps, taking in the view. The birds flying in flowing patterns above her head, like they had organized a performance just for her. Her eyes catch on one of the birds that had gone out of formation, watching its slow descent to the water as it tries desperately to flip its wings back into their familiar flow.

She watches with hungry, anxious eyes as the bird mimics a position similar to hers. She swore in that moment, they caught each other's eyes. Everything else disappeared in that moment, and they were one. Their eyes close in the same instant as they let the fight die out. Their arms come down as they tilt their bodies down.

Just as their bodies breach the surface of the water, the wind pulls under the bird and pulls it up from its position - sending it flying again through the air through force.

The wind was too late for the girl, however, as her body submerged into the void.