Mermaiding Mishap[12P] by WaveLens,chef-cheir(7)

"Just keep swimming, just keep..."
P5--- 5: At the limit? ---
"...just keep swimming..."
Mi'ara repeated that a dozen times at herself probably, just like she tried to trick her own mind into believing that she truly was a mermaid. Unfortunately that could only help so far. The water around her was still dark due to the distant sunlight or maybe it seemed even darker to her because the lack of air was getting to her head.

Eventually the twitches and spasms of her lungs became unbearable and when an especially intense wave hit her body, the girl had no choice but to clutch her chest and clasp her mouth shut. Nevertheless, stale, yet precious bubbles of air seeped past her fingers no matter what she did. Her lungs were emptying gradually, making it only worse and with her hands occupied, her ascending slowed down further.