Prologue
It was a dark time for mankind. With waters rising, people were at a loss. The death tolls were increasing by at least two folds daily. Humans had turned into savage creatures, fighting daily to survive.
However, scientists had found a cure. They made created a new kind of human. Homo sapiens with gills, which were also known as gilldroids.
Soon, the old generation of humans died out and Earth was filled with gilldroids. The new species thrived, starting a new life in their wet environment.
Then came the collision. Earth was knocked off its course and ended up colliding with the Sun. The water dried up and they were forced to wear tanks around their heads. Fishes were placed in the tank as decorations at first until the gilldroids realised that they could speak with fishes, that were really smart. The fishes told them that they were not allowed to cremate their dead loved ones. Tossing them into the sea was the only option.
After centuries of development, the freshwater gilldroids started to think that they were made to rule to world. They started murdering saltwater gilldroids, one by one. Earth was finally free of the saltwater gilldroids.
1.
It isn't Nelson. It can't be!" Nelly kept shaking her tank in denial. "No... it couldn't be..." Could it? Nelson was not that irrational. Well, sometimes his emotions controlled him instead of his fishes. Ah... yes... emotions. Nelson had within him something that was considered illegal in their world. Emotions. They were supposed to follow their fishes instructions. Always. To be lacking of emotion, to be without warmth, to be one with the fishes.
Nelson had been with Nelly since they were tiny tadpoles. Nelly was once from a wealthy family and Nelson was her servant. But he became more than that. Society forced them to end their relationship, voted to separate them. How could the heir to the throne be with a commoner?
They did not just though. They did not have a taste of how charming Nelson could be. They did not have any right to stop two gilldroids who were truly in love from being together.
"Rubbish!" Father had said.
Father had accused Nelson of implanting such vulgar thoughts into her tank.
But that did not stop the young gilldroids. Mother had secretly arranged meetings for Nelson and Nelly. She supported the young lovers, often having a faraway look on her face whenever she saw the couple. Mother had also allowed Nelly to migrate to Nelson's hometown. And that's where they both were, married.
2.
Married life was no where near Nelly's expectations. There was no intimacy at all. No love could be expressed publicly. The only place where everything felt right, was in Nelson's arms in their gigantic fish tank and shower room. Places where no glass tanks or fishes could get in their way. These simple yet romantic moments were shared in silence because there was no need for words.
However, recently Nelson had been wanting to publicly express his love. Secretly, she yearned for it too.But knowing that it was out of the question, illegal, Nelly opposed the idea. She knew that if they did so, they would be separated.
Nelly begged Nelson to just let go of the idea. To stop being a gilldroid with such a thick skull. Stop behaving like a saltwater fish, who were famous for their bad tempers. He cradled her cheek, staring intently at her face, with an unreadable expression. She tried to read his face. All she saw was hurt. Written all over his face.
"Nelson? Darling?"
Nelson's hand shot back to his side.
"Never insult the saltwater gilldroids ever again." Nelson glared at her for the first time. He stalked out of the house.
Anger. Another emotion. Nelly was stunned. This was the first time Nelson had shown her such an emotion. Nelly was afraid. And for the first time in her life, Nelson wasn't there to comfort her.
Feeling lost, she stumbled out into the darkness, screaming Nelson's name. Again and again. Silence answered her. She sat, slumped on the porch stairs. Suddenly, she saw white at the corner of her peripheral vision.
3.
"Dearest Nelly, if you are reading this letter it probably means that I have stormed out of the house. I know that it probably scared you. And I'm truly sorry. Scaring you was never my intention. At the altar, I vowed to keep you away from all the hurt and sorrow. But how do I do that when bliss and happiness cannot be displayed or shown? I can no longer keep my emotions in check Nelly. My heart is bursting at its seams. Love that I only have for you can no longer be locked in till the few moments we have in our tanks. There is a solution, for us to be freed from this cruel system. That is for us to go to the ocean.
I know that you think you are a freshwater fish. But you're not. You are a beautifully stunning saltwater gilldroid. I have been given the task of giving you salt secretly at night to keep you alive. I never want to hurt you Nelly. But if you want freedom, come to the dock, I'll be waiting for you in the ocean.
Your Love,
Nelson"
Nelly's hands trembled violently. Maybe this was all a cruel joke. The fishes are telling her to not believe in this letter. That maybe it isn't even Nelson. However, her legs are bringing her straight to the dock.
There at the platform were shards of broken glass and two tiny goldfishes flipping and thrashing wildly, gasping for air. The same breed that Nelly chose for Nelson.
"No... it couldn't be..." Could it?
She looked into the ocean and out popped her wedding pendant. The one that had her name engraved on it. The one she placed in Nelson's tank at the altar.
Taking a deep breath, she started tilting her tank. The fishes jumped out and into the ocean, as if beckoning her to go with them. To go home.
Her world is spinning. She shuts her eyes tight, jumps off the platform.
And into the arms of the one she loves. They are finally one, together.
