1=Rescue
Madison;
Walking on the edge of a cliff near the sea, I walk over the edge. I let myself fall into the water. The second my legs made contact with the water, scales started to appear on my legs until they morphed into a tail.
To the outside world, I’m known as the mystical creature, the mermaid.
I do possess an enchanting voice that can captivate any man, but it’s not as strong as a siren. A siren’s voice can allure a hundred men at the same time.
I also have a hidden gift. If someone helps a mermaid, she can grant the same person one wish they desire.
When I was ten years old, I saved a human child from drowning. Sirens had attacked his boat where he was with his family. He was unconscious and had a deep cut above his eyebrows. It was the first and the last time I’d done something so reckless.
To this day, I still don’t know why I’ve saved him. I have his necklace around my wrist. It’s the only souvenir I have of him.
Occasionally, I look at the bracelet on my wrist, wondering what happened to the little boy as I think of him.
When his people found him and took him with them, something unusual happened to me. My heart felt heavy. I couldn’t understand why. We, mermaids, don’t feel any pain since the sea turns our hearts cold as we grow older.
I learned the human language by spying on fishermen who passed by.
Even if I am alone, I’m used to it. I pass my time collecting all kinds of objects humans left behind, clothes, jewelry, toys, and other stuff. I even collect seashells.
As I swim in the sea, searching for something new for my collection, I feel vibrations around me, causing the water to change as if something was causing it to become unsettled.
I felt vibrations around me, causing the water to change as if something was causing it to become unsettled. With curiosity, I swim toward the disturbance. A boat had exploded, and near it, a man was swimming as his body leaned over the ship’s debris.
I promised myself never to interfere in human affairs, so what was the reason that pushed me to not listen to my instincts?
Keeping a safe distance away, I couldn’t take my eyes off of him.
Why am I so drawn to him? I asked myself.
My eyes widen when I see his body slipping from the debris inside the water. Without thinking twice, I plunge into the water, swimming fast before his body is lost, where there’s no light as he goes deeper and deeper.
I grab him under his armpits as I swim toward the island, bringing him with me. I don’t know how I did it, but I successfully took him out of the water where he could breathe again.
He have long brown hair that goes above his shoulder and a beard that covers his jaw. He has a scar above his eyebrow, just like the little boy I saved ten years ago.
What is the chance of him and the child being the same person?
He is handsome.
Did I compliment a human?
I shake my head. Now is not the time.
Is he breathing? That’s what I should ask myself.
In the past, I saw many humans trying to save other lives. What procedure did they take to help someone who wasn’t breathing?
Let’s see if I learned well
Placing the heel of one hand on the sternum. I set the other hand on the first. Keeping my fingers up and my arms straight, I count thirty chest compressions. Then I tilt his head back, putting one hand on his forehead and the other under his chin. I bring my mouth to his. Before I could administer the mouth-to-mouth to give him oxygen, he spat the water he had in his lungs, coughing simultaneously.
Twice now, I have saved a human life.
I plunge inside the water before he has time to see me. I’m not ready for him to see me, but I can’t seem to want to stay away from him, whoever he is.
I go to the surface to hide behind the piles of rocks that separate me from him. I take a pick at him as I can’t help myself.
What is this feeling I get inside me whenever I look at him? I’m curious to know.
He places his hand on his forehead, sitting up. Looking around, he must wonder how he got to the shore so fast.
He seems lost.
I want to go to him, to comfort him. If I went to him as a mermaid, I don’t know what his reaction would be. Humans aren’t used to seeing mythical creatures. They think we are a myth.
Unless I go to him as a human, all I have to do is wait for my legs to appear before seeing him.
I have to make sure I won’t get my feet or my legs wet. I must stay away from the sea while I’m with him, and I’ll be good to hide my true identity from this man.
I distance myself from him by swimming to a spot I can get out of the water. Once I’m dry enough and my legs appear instead of my tail, I don’t waste my time as I go to him.
What is causing my heart to beat so quickly?
There he is.
Hearing me approaching, he turns to me. Upon spotting me, his eyes widen, and he appraises me from head to toe. I bend my head down to look at myself, and I realize I’m fully naked. My king hair hides most of my body. That’s right; humans wear clothes!
Why didn’t I think of that sooner? Ugh!
He looks away from me, turning around. He removes his shirt to give it to me.
I can’t help myself but chuckle as I accept his offer. Once I put the shirt on, I touch his shoulder to indicate he can turn around.
He turns around with a smile. “Well, that was a great first introduction.” He clears his throat. “My name is Henry Ritchson.” He offers me his hand.
Looking into his deep green eyes is enough to make the ice around my heart melt. I think it means he’s my mate. I think it means he’s my mate.
They say that when a mermaid finds her mate. Her cold heart is filled with warmth. That’s what’s happening to me.
I clear my throat to shake his hand as I introduce myself. “Madison.”
His gentle eyes hardened and formed into a frown as his gaze fell upon my wrist. “Where did you get that?” He growls as he looks at my bracelet.
It was the little boy’s necklace, the one I saved ten years ago. This is the only souvenir I have of him. To all my collection is the one thing I wear since it’s so dear to me.
Henry reaches for my wrist, but I’m fast enough to dodge his touch. I turn around and run toward the sea as I remove his shirt.
“Wait, Madison. I’m sorry. Please come back.” He screams as I run away from him. “Don’t leave. Let me explain.”
I don’t hesitate to dive into the water where I feel safe.
Looking at him in the distance in the same hiding spot I was before, I see he’s mad at himself as he kicks the sand under his feet.
