ΛЯΛ | The Last Mermaid ⏸

Sketch

Philip

She looked lifeless. Immobile.
Was she dead?

I carefully remove the net from her face and examine her features. I knew it was improper to have these thoughts at a time like this, but she was absolutely stunning. She had the sort of profile that made you stop in your tracks and gaze.

I press my ear to her chest, hoping to detect a pulse or the faintest sign of life. Did mermaids even have pulses?

Thump. Th-thump.

Good! She was still awake.
As I move back to watch her again, she jolts up and coughs out a trail of seaweed.

I am startled by her movement but still, watch her in silence. 

She observes me intently, scooting backward once she realized our closeness but is prohibited once she feels the constraints of the net.

I take out a knife to free her but she only retreats, going back even further. I raise both of my hands to show her my lack of defense."I won't hurt you" She watches me silently. Could she understand me?

I throw the knife down and slide it to her so she could grab it. She does and cautiously cuts herself free. Once she was done, she returns her gaze to mine but still stares at me with caution.

My eyesight falls and the necklace around her neck becomes the focus of my gaze. No, it couldn't be. It was my mother's necklace.

"Where did you get this?" I fume, seeing the familiar outline. I would know the jewel from anywhere. I remember playing with it as a child or my mother letting me wear it when I cried.

I gripped the back of her neck, pulling it into my palm before turning it around.

"Jane?"
It was my mother's necklace. Her name dispelled any doubt. 

"Where did you get this? I must know!" my voice was impatient. Harsh.

She shook her head hesitantly, clearly not grasping what I was saying.

"Where did you... NEVERMIND! You don't understand a word I'm saying." I mutter, letting her neck go.

She looks up at my curly mane and gently runs her fingers through them, instantly flinching away. I tried not to smile as she looked at me like a foreign object. Little did she know who the real stranger was.

She frowns and runs her fingers against my skin, tracing my eyebrows then my nose then moving down to my lips. She rubbed her fingers against them, taking her time to feel the crevices and creaks.  She moves down to feel my legs, crouching to touch my toes. She was a curious little thing. Adorable and forward. She stared into my green eyes before pulling her hands away, understanding the intrusiveness of her touch.

I guess this was the part I was supposed to let her be free? She examines my features but doesn't move. Maybe she couldn't move? I guess she had been out of the water for too long.

I bend down and lift her into my arms, staring into her eyes. She throws an arm around my neck on instinct and frowns. I lower her into the waters, taking one final glimpse at her features before letting her go.