Forbidden Love

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Sally watched Nixie disappear into the distance, her heart heavy with worry. "Be safe, Nixie," she whispered to the wind, her tiny body trembling as she hoped and prayed that her friend's journey would lead to happiness, not heartache.

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Nixie found herself in the heart of the city, her senses overwhelmed by the sights and sounds around her. Everything was so new, so different from the peaceful underwater world she was used to. She admired the tall buildings, the flashing lights, and the bustling crowds, a sense of awe washing over her.

She barely noticed the curious looks she received from passersby. People stared at her bare legs, which were covered in scars, and her makeshift clothing—a towel she had wrapped around herself. But Nixie didn't care. She was too focused on the beauty of the city and the excitement of being so close to finding Stephen.

Then she caught a familiar scent on the breeze—his scent.

"That smell... I know that smell," Nixie whispered, her heart pounding with excitement. She followed the scent, her feet carrying her swiftly through the city streets. She was so focused on following the trail that she hardly noticed her surroundings. All that mattered was finding Stephen. She had been waiting for this moment for so long.

The scent led her to a hospital. Nixie paused at the entrance, her breath quickening. She stepped inside, her heart racing with anticipation. The smell grew stronger, but as she moved through the sterile hallways, it suddenly vanished. Confused, she looked around, trying to pick up the scent again.

Her eyes scanned the rooms as she wandered the halls, searching for any sign of him. Then, in one of the rooms, she finally saw him.

Stephen.

Her heart leapt in her chest, but the sight before her was not what she had imagined. Stephen lay bedridden, his once strong frame now frail and weak. He looked so much older than she remembered, and his skin was pale. Yet, when his eyes met hers, they lit up with a flicker of the happiness and excitement she had known from their earlier meetings.

Stephen reached out a trembling hand toward her. Nixie rushed to his side, her emotions overwhelming her. She took his hand, and he smiled weakly, his eyes filled with affection. With a shaky hand, Stephen handed her a folded piece of paper. Nixie stared at it, her heart breaking at the sight of him in this condition. Tears welled up in her eyes.

Leaning down, she placed a gentle kiss on his forehead. As her tears fell, she clutched his hand tightly, not wanting to let him go. But then, the steady beeping of the Holter Monitor in the room began to change. The beeps grew slower, more erratic, until they flatlined.

Nixie froze, her heart stopping as the reality of the situation sank in. The room around her seemed to blur as the sound of ringing filled her ears. Doctors and nurses rushed into the room, frantically trying to revive Stephen, but Nixie already knew. He was gone.

She stood in the corner, her tears falling silently as they worked to save him, but in her heart, she knew it was too late. Stephen was dead.

Days passed after Stephen's death, and Nixie felt lost. She had come all this way, only to lose him forever. The pain in her chest was unbearable, but she knew it was time to return to the ocean. She couldn't stay in this world any longer.

But before she left, she remembered the letter Stephen had given her. She hadn't had the strength to open it since his passing, but now, as she sat by the shore, she knew she had to. With trembling hands, she unfolded the paper, her heart heavy with grief.

Inside, in Stephen's shaky handwriting, the letter read:

My Nixie

I tried so hard to evade,