She was scared. Not that she was doing something forbidden- in fact that was rather thrilling- or that she may actually hurt herself, as her father seemed to think- that just seemed ridiculous.
No, Aishling was scared that she had worked this up to be something so incredible, so wonderful, that there was no possible way it could live up to her expectations in real life. Surely the ocean couldn't be that amazing, could it? It was probably just the allure of the "forbidden" that made her feel as though she so desperately need to seek it out.
She'd ignored the pull all her life, after the first time she'd wandered away from her father during market and almost reached the beach and he'd been so angry she instantly knew she'd done something awful and frightening. But now it was just too much, she couldn't take it anymore.
Breathe, Ash, just breathe, she told herself, slipping down the narrow cliff-side path that lead from her village to the shore, using the light of a waxing moon to guide her steps. Don't be disappointed, whatever happens. It couldn't possible be what she'd built up in her mind-
"Oh..." The young woman's eyes lifted as her feet touched pebbly sand and she caught her breath, absolutely stunned. She'd been wrong. It was magnificent.
Aishling was frozen for a moment, eyes wide and hands lifting to cover her mouth. Her feet moved forward quite unconsciously, like there was something physically pulling her toward the water, black as the night and strewn with the reflections of countless stars. Something clicked in her chest and she almost burst into tears.
Somehow, it felt like she was coming home.