-He's a beautiful baby.
-He is," I answer without taking my eyes off Steven and Rossy's baby.
Two months old, little Jackson looks just like his mother, in every sense of the word, they are happier than ever in their lives.
-Do you think it will be our turn someday? -he sighs.
Jasmine and I have bonded quite a bit, her five months here have been enjoyable for everyone. Her father was furious with her for the first month, one of her brothers was sent to take her back, but she refused to leave and he wasn't able to make her.
-Of course, how about going to the lake tonight?
-Yes, perfect.
We go often lately mostly to talk or go in the water, at night with the reflection of the moon it's the most beautiful thing ever.
That sweet smell disappeared completely, it hasn't come back despite my attempts to look for it, I go through the forest and near the human villages, but it's as if it never existed, I haven't been able to understand it, I've been researching in our library about something similar but there's nothing... it's exhausting and above all frustrating not to have the answers.
After a long day of work, I get ready to meet Jasmine at the entrance of the forest, when I see her I greet her with my hand, but I didn't manage to walk to her because of my mother getting in my way.
-Will you go out with her again?
-Yes, I am. Is something wrong?
-Many of our kind, while waiting for our mates to arrive, have adventures.
-What are you getting at, Mom?
-I don't agree with your relationship with her, she's nice, yes, I admit it, but she'll never make you feel fulfilled.
-We're just friends, it's never been more than that, I don't know my partner, but I wouldn't cheat on her, I don't want another one and it saddens me to think that you do.
-Son," he interrupted her.
-And even if I did, it's not something you should have an opinion about, it's my life and I decide what to do with it, if you'll excuse me mother.
Leaving the topic finished, I go to Jasmine, she asks me what happened, but I didn't answer her, I just kept silent all the way to the lake.
We decided to go inside like many other times, but this time there was something different, I couldn't stop thinking about my mother's words and I'm sure she suspects what our conversation was about.
Looking at the moon, I feel Jasmine tapping my shoulder to make me turn around.
-I love the water.
-You grew up surrounded by it? Every time we come here you walk in, you never transform.
-As a child I used to ask what it felt like to be a human, to have feet, toes, to run, to jump. My parents kept me in a bubble all my life.
-Don't you want to go back to being a mermaid?
-It's not that, I just... I want to experience different things, places, explore the world.
-Do it. -What's stopping you?
-Fear I guess, getting so far away from home and then not knowing how to get back.
-We always find our way home, she calls out to us, all the time.
She was very beautiful, you must admit, her long wavy hair, more beautiful than many forest and water fairies. Suddenly I just felt the urge to kiss her, I don't know why, maybe because of my mother's saying or because next to her I don't feel lonely.
-Since a few days ago, I feel that between us? -silence for a few seconds- I don't know, maybe, there could be something, we get along well, I like you.... I like you.
I raise my hand and caress his cheek.
-I like you too, but only as a friend.
-You like me too," he says quickly, "but you won't deny that there's a certain attraction between us, we have a lot in common.
-That's true.
Neither of us is able to say another word, just standing there in complete silence trying to figure out what to do, if it's right or not. The last thing I want to do is hurt her, I could never love her, we only love our partners, it's not fair to her, give her hope for something that will never happen.
But why do I go up to her to kiss her? Why can't I just turn and walk away?
I barely managed to feel the touch of our lips, when a sweet scent came on the wind. She lifts her head in the direction of the forest and my heart beats harder than ever.
-Is it her again?
-I don't know what it really is, but she drives me crazy.
-And what are you waiting for?
I look back at her.
-I'm sorry.
-Don't say that," she puts her hands on my shoulders to support herself and pull herself up a little, "Don't let her get away," she whispers in my ear after kissing my cheek, " Go, run.
Without another thought, I jump out of the water and transform.
I run and run as for as I can, this time it's different, this time, the scent doesn't fade, it just gets stronger and stronger. I see a light in the distance, it's there, I finally found the source, I speed up my pace, my legs hurt, but it doesn't matter, I just want her in my arms.
But what I see when I arrive is the most horrible thing I ever imagined.
Why my Goddess Moon? why?