I let her in speechless. She looked human-like again. I tried not to keep eye contact watching a dull pattern of wallpapers. Being silent too, she stood with one arm crossing the body and touching the other one.

“You are still in your wet clothes. Go and change it and I’ll make some tea to warm you.”

“Good idea,” I pushed the words out of my mouth.

“What am I thinking? I invited a stranger into the house, and I don’t even know her name!” I heard the rattling of my crockery. Obviously, she was busy in the kitchen. I stood in the middle of my bedroom dressed and dry but shivering of indecision. I’ve been wanting to see her again, yet afraid of leaving my room now.

“Your tea is ready,” I heard her soft luring voice.

No use in staying here. One hasty glance at my reflection, one quick ruffling of my disheveled hair; I couldn’t make up any more excuses to stay in the room longer.

I found her sitting on the broad windowsill holding a picture of my parents and me when I was a kid.

“Your mother is very beautiful; you definitely took after her,” she said, riveting her eyes on my family photo.

“Everybody says I resemble my dad more,” I took a hot smoking cup from the table, scolding myself for childish disability to gracefully accept compliments.

“I hope you did not get too cold,” she stood up to put the frame on its place. “You stayed in freezing water for too long. It’s dangerous for a huma … hm for you.”

She seemed to be nervous, though was concealing it: she didn’t sit with me at the kitchen table, standing like a statue.

“Why don’t you join me? Where did you get this tea? Very tasty,” I didn’t remember having any sweet-scented herbs on the shelves. “You must be tired and cold too. Shall I make any sandwiches? I think I have a bar of chocolate in the drawer,” I jumped up from the chair to get all necessary ingredients, talking nonstop to avoid a serious conversation.

“Don’t bother; I’m not hungry.”

“Oh...” I froze, holding an empty cup I got for her.

“Drink your tea and rest,” she said resolutely, firing irritating looks at my unfinished tea.

“I will not if you don’t want to do the same,” I said stubbornly, crossing my arms.

We were eyeing each other maybe for a second.

“Where is your boyfriend?”

“Who?” I was taken aback.

“A young tall man at the pond who took you back home.” her face was like a mask.

“Sylvester is my best friend.”

“Sure, sure! Just a friend,” she narrowed her eyes, pressing her dark lips together.

“You have no right to use this tone talking to me.” I stepped closer to her. Now or never:

“What are you?”

Now it was her turn to hold her breath:

“Doris,” she whispered.

“Doris who? Doris what?” I made another step towards her. “Are you a mermaid?” I couldn’t believe I asked her that last question and inevitably was prepared for anything.

She nodded, looking into my eyes. The girl was not mocking me: her countenance was sane and serene. Nevertheless, we both might be insane so it doesn’t matter.

“I must ask you something strange: were you in my dream, at the seashore?” I bit my lower lip. What could be stranger than our conversation? I felt like an actress on the stage playing a role, for the topic was far beyond an everyday talk.

“Yes, I was,” her voice was weak. “Actually, it was not a real dream; we were in astral. My coin served as a conduit between us.”

“I knew it was your coin,” I stopped abruptly. “... I must confess. I think I lost it when we were at the pond! I promise you, I’ll find the coin or pay for it. Look, I didn’t take it on purpose,” I said passionately.

“It doesn’t matter. It’s your coin now. Do whatever you want with it,” she looked crestfallen.

I wanted to ask her a million questions, but none of them seemed fine. I felt bad for having lost her coin, for using my rough tone, but it was probably my last chance to open a secret door to the unknown:

“Can you turn into a mermaid?” the words escaped my lips. I gulped, waiting for her reaction.

She looked uncomfortable. I thought she would just leave me, but she nodded again. I didn’t know what to expect; on the inside I was still floating in great disbelief.

Like ripples on water, her skin started moving, reviling her true self. Suppressing my weak desire to spring back, I clenched my fists but didn’t stir. My kitchen seemed like a wrong filming set for her: it was weird to see Doris in clothes and away from water. Like in a daze, I raised my hand and without permission touched her seaweed lock. I expected it to be wet, but it was soft and warm and resembled a silicone string by touch.

Doris looked straight into my eyes and gently touched my cheek. She was so close; I felt her trembling or maybe it was me? I could clearly see her glowing scales and ammonite shell ears. A fairytale was too real.

“I...I want to think everything over. I need...” I stammered. “Let’s...”

“You don’t need to explain. I understand. And I’m really sorry for troubling you.”

When she left me like a meteor, I smashed my cup against the wall and started crying over its pieces.