Diary of a Mermaid

That innocent face

I couldn't sleep last night. I was having horrible dreams about the Poseidonians dropping more mines. Ones that destroyed our house. Our city. Our country. When my alarm goes off at six am, I'm ready to run. Ready to get out of here. Ready to protect my sisters. I get dressed, grab my suitcase, and head to the front door where my parents are waiting.

As we drive to the train station, no one says a word. We're all petrified. We finally arrive twenty minutes later and Mom and Dad take us to the boarding platform. "Be careful," I say to them, suddenly crying.

They envelope me in a hug and do the same to the rest of the kids. Then we board the WaterGo. Angel and Nemmy fall asleep right after we start moving. I just stare out the window. The seats are positioned in threes and I have Angel on my left and Nemmy on my right. The boys are in the seats behind us and our carry-on luggage is on the extra seat.

Ten minutes into the ride, the driver comes on the intercom. "Mermaids and mermen. We will now begin to slowly drain the water out of the cabins so don't be alarmed when your tails melt away and human legs appear." I read somewhere that our tails turn into legs when dried. I've just never been able to try.

An hour later, I'm watching a movie on my ElectroTablet when Nemmy who has been slumped across my lap says, "Topee?"

I look down at her and smile a little. "Yeah, honey?"

"Are Mommy and Daddy gonna be okay?"

I study her tiny face. She's too young to be going through this. Too young to be sent away. Too young to be involved in the war. Right now, I'm her main guardian. If anything happens to that innocent face, I would never forgive myself.

"I think so, Sweetie." I reply. It seems to satisfy her because she's closes her eyes and goes back to sleep on my lap.

Something pokes me from behind. I turn around a peak through the cracks between the seats. I see Ray leaning forward. "You shouldn't lie to her. You don't know what will happen to them."

"I know, but how do tell that to a five year old?"

"Just distract her. Get her to forget about them."

That sets me off. "I don't want her to forget about her parents Ray! I hope you don't want her to, either." I turn back around and vow to not let my sisters forget about home.