Lila floated in the radiant embrace of the Caribbean Sea, the warm sun showering its brilliance upon the water’s surface, transforming it into a breathtaking tapestry of glimmering diamonds. Beside her, her sister, Mia, swam with fluid grace, their laughter bubbling up like the gentle waves that lapped around them.
Grand Cayman: a paradise where time dissolved into the ocean’s rhythm. Below them, the stingrays glided, their graceful forms weaving through the vibrant blue depths, emanating an aura of serene wisdom.
“Look at them, Lila!” Mia said, her voice ringing with delight. “They’re so stunning!”
Lila nodded, entranced.
The stingrays approached with an enchanting ease, their wide, flat bodies flowing like soft clouds against the water.
Lila reached out, her fingertips brushing against one as it glided past. A shared understanding beyond words filled that moment.
Mia’s eyes sparkled with excitement.
“Let’s swim with them!”
They dove beneath the surface without hesitation, bubbles erupting like tiny stars into the shimmering water. The world transformed into an underwater dreamscape where Lila felt weightless and alive. She and Mia swirled in joyous harmony as the stingrays danced around them, their gentle movements casting a tranquil spell.
Then, a sudden splash shattered the serenity.
A figure stumbled into the water nearby, laughing raucously—a man, drunk and oblivious to the beauty surrounding him. The stingrays, sensing danger, swiftly retreated to the deeper waters.
Panic gripped Lila as she turned to find Mia, her focus thrown into chaos. She felt a sharp pain pierce her chest, a visceral shock that jolted her from the serenity of her dream.
With a gasp, Lila awoke, her heart racing.
She was back in her bed, drenched in a cold sweat, the remnants of her dream clinging to her like a damp shroud. The dawn was breaking, painting the horizon in stunning hues of gold and pink. Lila felt an unsettling weight throbbing in her chest, as if the stingray’s barb had truly found its mark.
Mia’s warm, concerned voice drifted from another room.
“Lila? Are you okay?”
“Yeah, just a strange dream.”
Lila grimaced as the heaviness in her chest persisted. Her limbs felt strange, numb and tingly at the same time.
She stretched out in bed, feeling her chest, then her arms and legs. Her skin felt velvety smooth. She felt her face. That felt smooth too and tingled at her touch.
What was happening to her? Was she sick? That would be horrible! She didn’t want to ruin their time together.
Lila thought about her life in Toronto. She had almost finished her bio-research studies at Vic (Victoria College). What came next? Graduate school or a job? She knew she had to decide soon.
Today, she knew one thing: the sun-kissed beaches of this Caribbean island drew her in.
Lila thought about how lucky her sister was to work on the island. Mia had recently landed a promising role as an assistant manager at a bank in Grand Cayman, opening doors to fresh beginnings and thrilling possibilities.
When Lila announced a two-week visit from Toronto, Mia eagerly planned her own vacation. She dreamed of exploring the island’s riches with her sister.
Theirs was a joyful reunion, brimming with laughter, discovery, and treasured moments.
As they wandered along pristine beaches and marveled at the kaleidoscope of marine life beneath the waves, their bond grew even stronger, bridging the distance that once kept them apart. They basked in sun-drenched days, swimming, dining, and sharing hopes for the future, cherishing every moment.
Now, Mia stood in the doorway of Lila’s room.
“What do you think about heading back to the beach? It looks like another gorgeous day!”
Although the ocean inexplicably pulled at her spirit, Lila hesitated before answering.
“Yeah, okay, I need some fresh air.”
Her voice sounded distant to her, as if caught in a dream.
The salty breeze tousled Lila’s hair as they drove to the beach, awakening something deep within her.
The strange tingling in her limbs, combined with the sea’s enchanting pull, washed over her as they neared the beach.
Lila remembered her dream, the way her body felt weightless, yet alive in the water. She remembered one stingray after another brushing against her, welcoming her.
They left their towels and bags on the sand and walked into the clear shallow water; Mia ahead of Lila. The undulating waves were hypnotic. Lila’s legs gave way beneath her. She sank to her knees. She felt her body shifting, floating.
“Mia, I—” Lila said, but her voice faltered.
The world around her wavered and blurred, colors melting together in a surreal dance.
She saw Mia ahead of her, giggling at a school of fish weaving around her legs.
Lila tried to reach Mia but found herself submerged.
She felt the cool, welcoming caress of the water envelop her like a silken blanket, its hypnotic whispers lulling her body as she gave in to the transformation.
Her limbs elongated and flattened, her senses sharpened; each flick of her new tail sent her spiraling through this vibrant aquatic world.
Schools of fish darted past, their scales shimmering like shards of glass, and she reveled in gliding among them.
Meanwhile, Mia stood scanning the horizon, her heart racing with fear as she called out.
“Lila!”
Anxiety gripped Mia as she walked the beach in either direction, searching the vast waters, but it was as if the ocean had swallowed her sister whole.
Mia’s frantic search for Lila then turned to urgent phone calls to local authorities declaring her sister missing.
Armed with snorkels and diving gear, they plunged into the shimmering sea. Their voices called out Lila’s name into the vastness, wishing for even the faintest reply.
As the days blurred into an agonizing blend of worry and despair, Mia sought the wisdom of local fishermen, plastered flyers across Grand Cayman, and reached out to tourists, desperately hoping for a soupçon of hope or a whispered sighting.
Each sunset deepened the ache in Mia’s heart, yet Lila remained stubbornly elusive, a bittersweet mystery lost to the depths.
Beneath the waves, the rhythmic pulse of Lila’s heart synced with the ocean’s, and for the first time, she felt free; free from the limitations of who she had once been.
As she moved through the crystal-clear waters, Lila marveled at the kaleidoscope of colors that danced around her. Coral gardens bloomed like underwater rainforests, each crevice teeming with life that beckoned her closer. The warmth of sunlight filtered down in golden beams, illuminating the sandy floor below, where shadows played like far-flung memories.
With each undulating movement, she embraced her new identity. The water responded to her every thought and intention, making her feel both powerful and serene. Lila realized she had not just transformed; she had become a part of this rich world, a creature of the sea, where joy flowed as freely as the waves above.
She was a stingray now, gliding through the water with a grace she had never imagined. This underwater world pulsed with life, exceeding the land’s brightness.
Freed from the constraints of her former life, she reveled in the beauty of her newfound existence.
Daily life involved exciting adventures: finding delicious treats, basking in warm waters, and playing in calm waves.
As her past worries faded away, she found herself immersed in a deep connection with the sea, where she could flourish as a joyful and serene soul.
Author's Note
This is a story I began writing several decades ago during a period of personal upheaval. It’s not surprising that I dreamed of transforming into a creature without the burdens that threatened to overwhelm me. My therapist (at the time) and I had great sessions with that analysis!
Anyway, no cockroaches or any other kafkaesque transformations here!
I do have one very short creative nonfiction piece involving a cockroach that stars my father and an arch nemesis.
One more thing, swimming with stingrays is an exciting and safe adventure at Stingray City in the North Sound of Grand Cayman. This beautiful sandbar is where southern stingrays hang out and are used to friendly encounters with people. Guided tours allow you to swim, feed, and interact with these fantastic creatures in their natural habitat.
Upcoming…
A prose poem read aloud:
Last Run, 16 August 2025
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Your writing got me from the first few lines. Your descriptions are beautiful and lyrical. Honestly great writing and an engaging read. Keep writing, fellow writer!
I love this Caro - so well written. I would want to be a bird 🐦 that freedom 🌸