𝐢𝐧 𝐚 𝐦𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐞 | 𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐲𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐝𝐨𝐥𝐚𝐧

17 - mermaid troubles

-> merliah

I swam above shore and headed straight back to the cafe, all cleaned up and dried. I sit and try to distract myself by ordering a meal.

I feel so lightheaded from what I saw. My own mother. She's the only parent I have left and the thought of losing her makes me devastated. 

I zone back and notice my glitter tears fall. I quickly wipe away my tears and if on cue the waiter gives me my order. While taking bites, I decide if I should call Gray or not. But in the end I decided not to since he possibly could be busy, or maybe it's cause I don't want to feel like a burden. 

I decided to put my thoughts about my mother aside, and decide to think about how I would be the new ruler. How am I supposed to balance my studies? Wait, am I still going to be studying?

I let out a deep sigh out loud. I'm unprepared, and I don't know how to deal with that huge responsibility on me. Maybe I'll let Talya be the queen instead. Looks like she could handle it. 

I finish eating and pay the bill. I walk out of the cafe and bump into to Stef.

"Stef!" I smiles and hugged her softly while she does the same.

"What are you doing here?"

She answers, "I don't know, the twins always tell me you go here often so I decided to have a look at the cafe."

Stefanie glances at the cafe then looks at me.  She begins to observe my face and her face starts to change to a worry expression, "Liah, have you been crying?" She asks while she cups my face. 

I hold her hand which was on my face, "I guess, family problems." I shrug it off like it was nothing. I mean how could I possibly tell her my own mother was torn in half?

"You can talk to me, Merliah. I'm a good listener." She smiles genuinely. 

I let a few seconds off silence pass by and made my decision. I am going to tell her the truth about not only my 'family problems' but also what I am. I hold her hand and proceeded to reveal everything about me while sitting on the ledge near the ocean.

-

"I- I don't know what to say." She covers her forehead with her hand, furrowed eyebrows and adjusting her hair repeatedly.

"It's okay you don't have to say anything." I look to her and rub her back gently.

"Who else knows about this?" she asks.

"Just you and Grayson." 

A few minutes pass, answering every question Stef asked, which was a lot. It felt good to let someone else know about me. I felt relieved knowing she didn't freak out a lot and accepted me.

"I don't mean to be rude or anything, but d-do you think your mother can m-make it?" 

I sigh, "I really don't know. But I can't not face it; I know she's going to die. Sooner or later. There isn't some kind of spell or magic to abracadabra her mermaid fin back together, you know? I can't even look at her right now." I manage to let out. One more word coming from my mouth and waterworks might just start to happen.

"If you want my advice, I think, rather highly recommend for you to spend her remaining time with her. You should say your goodbyes and I love you's so she can hear it one last time." She speaks quietly.

I take her advice and face my body towards the ocean, ready to jump.

"Wow, I can't believe you're living 9-year old Stef's fairytale." She rolled her eyes making me laugh. I jump off and my tail quickly starts to form.