Echos of the deep

The Lonely Ocean

The morning stretched on as Layla and Eros lingered by the shore. The salty breeze tugged at Layla's hair as she stood, gazing out at the waves.

"I'm curious what the ocean looks like," she murmured, more to herself than to Eros. Without waiting for a reply, she stepped into the water. As the waves kissed her legs, they shimmered and morphed, fusing into a sleek tail. Her gasp turned into a laugh as she gave a powerful flick, propelling herself deeper into the sea.

Eros followed, his transformation seamless. Together, they dove into the depths, the world around them shifting into a cold, dark expanse.

The ocean was nothing like Layla had imagined. It wasn't vibrant or full of life. Instead, it was empty and eerily quiet, seaweed swaying like ghostly fingers. Small fish darted here and there, but even they seemed timid, as if afraid of the space they occupied.

"This is where you lived?" Layla asked, her voice laced with sadness as her tail cut through the water.

Eros swam beside her, his expression unreadable. "Did you forget? Mermaids and mermen are emotionless. It's part of the curse."

She frowned, her heart sinking. "I wonder how this curse started."

"That's the billion-dollar question, sweetheart," Eros said with a wry chuckle.

Layla shook her head, the weight of the ocean pressing on her chest. It wasn't just lonely—it was oppressive, as if the water itself carried the sorrow of every soul trapped within it. They swam for what felt like hours before finally returning to the shore.

Emerging from the water, they dragged themselves onto the sand, letting the coarse grains cling to their scales. The sun warmed their skin as they sat side by side, their tails slowly fading back into legs.

"That deep ocean might become my future," Layla said quietly, staring at the horizon. "And it would be all because of you."

Eros smirked, unbothered. "It didn't work. At least not all the way. Look, we're in this together, girly. You're stuck with me now."

Layla sighed, staring down at her legs, feeling the weight of his words.

Before she could respond, a voice called out, breaking the silence.

"Oh hey there, Layla. Surprised to see you here."

Layla turned to see Francis strolling toward them, his hands in his pockets. He had that familiar easy smile on his face, the kind that made her roll her eyes on reflex.

"And who's your friend?" he asked, his gaze shifting to Eros.

Eros leaned back casually. "I'm her new buddy. Why?"

Francis raised an eyebrow, his smile faltering. "Well, nice to meet you, Buddy."

Layla groaned. "Ugh, his name is Eros. Just call him Eros and don't ask him questions."

Francis tilted his head, looking mildly offended. "Are you alright, Layla? You seem... tense."

"I'm fine," she snapped. "Why are you here?"

Francis shrugged, unfazed. "I decided to take a walk along the shore this morning. Thought I might find some peace and quiet."

"Okay," she replied tersely, turning her attention back to the water.

Francis lingered a moment, his gaze lingering on Eros before finally walking off.

"What's up with that guy?" Eros asked, watching Francis retreat into the distance.

Layla rolled her eyes, exhaustion creeping into her voice. "Ugh, he's the town's playboy."

Eros snorted. "Figures. He definitely has the look."

Layla groaned, lying back on the sand as the sun warmed her face. The weight of the morning pressed on her, but she couldn't shake the feeling that this was only the beginning of her strange, new life.