𝙃𝙀𝙍 𝙎𝙊𝙉𝙂

Hear my lament.

Why must there be barriers in love? Can beings, despite being born in any way different, not forcefully alter the Laws of the Universe in order to render their love possible? The gods did not create us with such shameful limitations.

I ask these questions not for the sake of having them answered, but to express my frustration. Why am I frustrated, you may wonder.

There is a man. A human, to be precise. He is a child of the sea, son of a sailor.

Now, although your first has yet to be answered, you must have conceived another question: what could be the barrier that separates the two of us?

I, too, am a child of the sea, in a different sense. As he was born by the shore, I was born in the water. He was born with the freedom to walk, I with the freedom to swim.

I am kin to what they call merfolk, people of the sea with all traits of a normal human but with one distinction - a tail for legs.

His kind and my kind are not meant to be. For if a man were to force himself to live in the depths of the ocean, he would simply drown. If, in the same instance, a member of merfolk were to swim to land, they would not be able to move beyond the sand. Say they do, the sailors by the shore would have them caught and sold in the market for their scales and meat.

This man, I know not his name. But perhaps it should remain unknown to me, so to avoid having to face the same hindrance that prevented Romeo and Juliet from continuing their love for one another. Besides, I do not need a name for him, for one look on that face of his is enough to make anyone, including the gods, have his image engraved in their minds.

I first laid my eyes on him when he and his father were on a ship, a creation that allows the opportunity to have humans so close to the creatures of the sea. I assumed the father and son were fishing that day.

The distance I was away from the ship was enough for me to witness the young man's beauty. His wistful gaze on the fuzzy horizon, his dark hair that blew with the wind—I was captivated. The sun kissed his skin so perfectly that he was glowing in a way that stars would envy. Oh, I thank the God of gods for shaping such a fine being!

I saw this man, and I decided to do what I had been told my whole life not to do. I approached that ship and revealed myself to him. His father, thankfully, was not able to see me.

And, just how I wanted, his gaze landed on me. His reaction was unlike what I had expected—terrified like all the humans are upon seeing merfolk. This one seemed fascinated, enthralled, and in no way terrified with my appearance. I was the same. I mean, how could I have not? He was beautiful. His eyes were as green as the land, just as mine were as blue as the sea. A perfect match, if I must say so myself.

That day, only my top half was seen. Who knows whether his reaction would have been different were he to have seen the other half that hid within the darkness of the waters. It is the similar sense as not knowing the truth about an iceberg until you look underneath the surface of the water, only to find that you've underestimated its magnificence.

Believe me when I pledge that if there ever arises a chance wherein I can destroy this vexing barrier between him and me, I would undoubtedly take it. I would take it in the same way a mermaid would drink a potion that would grant her a pair of legs in exchange for her beautiful voice, just for the sake of quenching her burning desire to be with the man she loves.

But, alas, that sort of notion in this world is an impossible fantasy that can only be dreamt of.

Again I question - can beings, despite being born in any way different, not forcefully alter the Laws of the Universe in order to render their love possible? Perhaps, they can.

Shall I, then, set a precedent for such a contrariety?