As I approach the water, the sun finally starts to rise. I can just barely see the astonishing sunset through the heavy fog. Bright colors paint the entire horizon, or at least whatever sections of the horizon was visible. Fiery orange, vibrant fuschia, and an intense yellow, just barely peeking over the horizon of murky, grey water. The sight of the sunset always seems to give me a sense of calm, almost to the point of being overwhelming. I had kept walking towards the ocean without realizing it, and so before long, my feet were in the water, and sopping wet. I open up one of my granola bars and devour it hastily. I shove the garbage back into my small, red backpack. I then drop the bag on the shore and step deeper into the high seas that lie ahead of me. Before long, I'm no longer walking, but swimming. I try to keep an eye out for the mermaid, or for anything really. But all I see is grey water and fog. The deeper I go, the thicker the fog seems to get. It gets more and more difficult to see anything. Then I spot it. The mermaid.