The sea can be an unforgiving place. This applies to the creatures living there and the creatures observing the sea. 

Merfolks have lived in the sea for as long as the dawn of humanity, when our land living folks decided to leave the ocean and find their space beyond , we drifted and evolved apart.

They walked into the sunlight and built cities of stone and glass. We swam deeper, weaving homes into coral and shipwrecks.

Where they had fingernails, we had claws. 

Where they had molars, we had fangs. 

Where they had legs, we had fins.

There should be no avenue for love , we don't even look alike and our fragile land folks can't bear the cruelty of the ocean nor can we bear the adversity of land but many often than not ; merfolks don't learn their lessons.

Even fairytales involving us don't end well. 

Our land living folks as weak and fragile as they are , their hearts are hard and their emotions are fickle. 

Kendrick, One of my merman friends, was sewing a blue shirt, his lips was pale , his claws were turning yellow but there was a small smile on his face. 

“Emma , do you know why our kind are going extinct?“

I kicked the surface of the water , and shrugged my shoulders.

“Because we keep coming to land instead staying in the sea?“

Kendrick chuckled weakly “ I guess that's part of it” He looked up at the setting sun “We get warned by our elders not to come to the surface, not to help humans no matter how they're struggling, not to get enticed by the things of the land but we never listen; we keep making the same mistakes as them”

I smiled at him “You know it won't be hard to just go back you know?“

“Do you want to go back?“

I laughed and shook my head , my voice cracked “ If it was that easy ….I would have gone a long time ago”

Kendrick finally finished the shirt by midnight, his skin was beyond pale and blue scales peppered his skin, his lips were cracked and his head was resting on my shoulder.

“it was a night like this when I first saw him. He was dancing on the beach and he looked so happy. “ his voice barely a whisper “ He saw me hiding behind a rock and asked me why I was out without a shirt on"

This wasn't the first time he was telling me the story, I could recite it word for word but I nod my head.

He smiled “ Then he took off his shirt and put it on my body, it was so warm and it smelled really good. Can you believe he got a cold later ? He couldn't get out of bed for days. It was then I told myself I won't make him get cold again”

He put the clothes into my hand “Give it to him for me okay?“

“Hmm”

“He gets so cold easily. Emma he gets really cold. He can't get cold again ” He whispered, his eyes finally closed and let out a breath. 

His legs transformed into a blue and purple tail , his hair turned blue , his nails into claws, his skin into scales , his neck into gills. 

I hugged him to my chest and finally let the sob out.

I buried him in the sea. Regardless of if we wanted to go back or not , it was our birth place ; our origin.

I took the bus to a wealthy estate , the security guard didn't let me in , he said I should call the person I needed to meet.

I stayed there for almost a day before I finally saw his car come out.

I jumped right in front of the car.

The car stopped just a breath in front of me , A man came out , Tall , arrogant face , his eyes filled with accusations; I never liked his face , it was shifty.

He glared at me “ who the fuck is this…” he frowned and pointed at me “ Wait I know you, you are his friend. What? Did that bitch send you to me ? Does he want to ask for money?“

I shook my head and gave him the shirt. 

“He said I should give you”

He looked at the shirt , his eyes briefly stunned before he shook his head. Then he tightened his lips before tossing the shirt at the back of the car , his voice was dismissive “ I have enough shirts as it is”

Then he drove off.

I rubbed my forearms “ He didn't even ask about him” 10 years of relationship and that shifty guy never even cherished Kendrick handmade shirts.

I turned and started my trip back home. 

The next day, I took a long bath and wore the best perfume. I wore a beautiful yellow dress and black heels. 

I got to the venue, just before the bride could step in.

She was beautiful.

Long black hair tied into a bun on top of her head , skin so white they rivaled milk, and a wedding gown so befitting of her.

Her eyes underneath the veil caught my own. 

She froze for just a second.

Just a second.

Just a second before she continued with her bridal progression.

She said her vows , she exchanged rings and she kissed her new husband.

I smiled , She's happy.

I went back to the sea watching the sky set ; my nails were turning yellow, my scales were already showing ; I can already feel the call of the sea. 

Do you know why merfolk went extinct?

Because apart from the sea , the only thing we loved really deeply was this weak and fragile land folks. 

The elders who warned us are all gone , the younger ones will probably be safe until they go to the surface and fall in love.

Just like we did. 

From Kendrick who couldn't leave that shifty awful man and stayed sewing every piece of his shirt till the day he died.

To me who can't let go of the woman who chose a man over me. 

I jumped into the sea and laid on the sea ground, my eyes closed and the last breath left my throat.

My sea.