The Girl and the Mermaid

Secrets

I should teach you sign language.

Thea told Cassaras the next time they met. Thea had been hopeful and scared at the same time when she went back into the secret room, not knowing what she would've done if the tank was empty, but when she had pointed her flashlight at the glass, Cassaras had looked at her with his sad, blue eyes.

Now the mermaid frowned again. Thea had discovered that he liked to raise his eyebrows like this. "What language is this?" He asked and Thea showed him a few signs.

This. It is my first language. I'm deaf, I can't hear.

Cassaras looked at her questioning. "But you understand when I speak...?" He seemed confused, so Thea tried to explain everything to him.

Since I was a baby, I wasn't able to hear. So, I learned sign language, but my dads also wanted me to learn how to read lips and how to speak, just in case I would ever meet someone who can't sign. In this house though, everyone can speak at least a bit of sign language.

It took Thea a minute until she was finished writing and Cassaras read the words impatiently after she was finally finished. Then he nodded. "So, you can't hear me, you just see my lips moving?" He asked for clarification. Thea smiled and nodded.

Then she repeated the sign she had greeted him with the first time she had seen him. "Hello."

This means "hello"

She wrote and showed him the sign again, a short wave with her hand. She watches Cassaras repeat the movement.

Then the girl continued with showing him "goodbye". Cassaras followed her instructions, copying the signs she was showing him.

Then Thea raised the paper she was writing on again.

I can show you individual letters, the ABC in sign language

She said to the mermaid. He nodded.

They got to F, then Thea had to leave. Cassaras signed "Goodbye" and once again watched lonely as the girl left the room.

-

A week later, Thea returned and taught Cassaras more sign language. This time, they got to the letter L. Thea was happy about the merman learning her language and in return, Cassaras was happy about having a friend and something he could use to pass the time.

I want to sneak into my pa's office and try to find some documents about you.

Thea told him. Cassaras looked at the writing on the page and nodded slowly. "Please be careful, Thea. I don't want you to be hurt, promise me." Thea nodded, then signed "Yes."

Cassaras watched her, then smiled. "Thank you."

-

It only took two days until Thea was ready to break into her pa's office. He was once again gone and her dad was busy with watching a movie in the living room.

Thea went unnoticed to the room she wanted to break into and was able to pick the lock after twelve excruciating minutes.

Then she was inside.

Of course nothing looked suspicious; no red signs on drawers with "SECRET INFORMATION" written on them, no vials filled with some mysterious black fluid. Thea rolled her eyes. Of course this wouldn't be easy.

She started with opening drawers, looking through many red spiral binders, she even tried to hack her father's computer password, but sadly it wasn't MeaThea123 so she had to give up. The girl was ready to leave when she saw something, a beige paper, half hidden under one of the shelves in the room. She knelt down and carefully took it into her hands, then looked at it. She saw the face of a baby.