Pearl

Prologue

"Happy 10th Birthday, Princess Pearl!", said the three hundred seventy-eighth mermaid invited in my birthday party. I managed to flash an almost-fake smile at her, though it's iternally killing me. I had been forced by my father to entertain them and appear cheerful. Well, being a daughter of a king--which makes you a princess, isn't all that fun and magical like what they say in fairytales.

After what seems like eons of smiling, entertaining, receiving gifts, and whatnot, the party was finally over. I vanished to the crowd of mermaids and mermen pushing themselves out of the kingdom, where the party was held. Dad has a funny, but deadly way of keeping Merdom, our kingdom, in order. Like for example, having crabs as guards instead of buffy mermen. So being caught sneaking out of the kingdom might mean the end of the world for me. Thus, I swam swiftly until I saw tall fences just five meters away from me. These palisades were made to separate the merpeople from the human world.

I grew up believing that humans never existed. Until one day, curiousity struck me. I sneaked out of Merdom and swam as far as my tail could take me. And my small tail brought me to these fences. I found a secret door and as curious as I am, I swam out of the fences. And because of this sneaky quest, I found another world and a human friend.

Everytime everyone was asleep, I would sneak out of Merdom and meet up with him. We grew close to each other. I told him my secrets, dreams, and everything concerning me, and so did he.  He is attractive and kind-hearted. So that's the reason why I kind of got a crush on him.

Last night, he told me to meet him in our usual meeting place. His invitation kept playing again and again inside my head that I can't sleep that night. Also the reason why I was so distracted during the party. I shook my head from my thoughts. Clamshells! I was daydreaming already. I swam faster thinking he was already beginning to become impatient. I kept swimming until I could see his reflection. I froze from where I am. Even his silhouette is breathtaking. I shook my head. This isn't the right time for staring. Eventually, I swam ashore.

"H-hey...Brandon...", I stammered.

"Happy Birthday,Princess.", He smiled his signature smile showing off his yellowish teeth, though something was wrong with the  way he smiled. I realized his eyes were puffy.

"Turn around", he ordered. I did as he said. I felt him tie something around my small neck. I looked at it and saw a bluish-white pearl tethered around my cervix as a necklace.

"Thanks. I... love it.", I said with all enthusiasm. He smiled again, a sad, sincere smile.

"I'm glad you like it. It's my birthday gift and....", he said then suddenly burst into tears. "goodbye gift... for you."

Tears traced my cheeks. "What do you mean?", I asked although I know exactly what he meant... that he'd be gone in my life.

"We're... moving to.. Canada.. tomorrow.", he said between tears. "I'm sorry."

"Goodbye.", I knew it was a dumb response, but that's all I could say. The boy with dark hair, sea-blue eyes is moving. The only real friend I had is leaving. The human that showed me Another World is.... gone.