A Fairy and Mermaid Fairytale

"Are mermaids real? Does fairytale even exist, Auntie?" asked my nephew.

With a smile and without any hesitation, I answered, "They are all real, sweetie. I already told you about the man I love, right?" As he nodded in a silent agreement, I continued, "Well, he is one of them. He belongs to the ocean and I am the hopeless romantic fairy who tried to make him step on the land."

Confusion is written all over his face. "You tried? Does it mean, he didn't do it? I thought fairytale can only have a happy ending?"

I chuckled. "Patience, my dear one. As I've mentioned, I tried. I really did. But yeah, he didn't do it. Just then I realize, I don't need to take him away from the ocean because that's where he is suppose to be. I told him I'll still be here if he ever needed me, that I will never stop looking at him the way I do since the beginning, and if he cannot walk on the sand, I can be the one who'll swim to the ocean."

"Then? What's the ending? Did they end up together?" His tiny little fist are clenching while anxiousness was visible in his eyes.

I walked near the window and then stare at the peaceful view in front of me. The waves are so gentle as if it's touching my whole being.

"They don't."

I looked back at him and saw how disappointed he is. I heave a sigh, diverting my gaze back outside.

"But the ending is not yet decided. What I'm saying is I'm still alive, so as he. The mere fact that we're still breathing is more than enough for me to hope all over again. I won't lose it until my very last breath."

A fairy isn't just a tale and a mermaid doesn't have those shining tail. They are with us. Maybe not by our side, but they are living in the same world as ours. Sometimes we're having a small talk with them, sometimes taking a picture, but most of the time, we're looking at them from behind... Admiring them like those prince's and princesses inside a wonderful fairytale.