Part Of His World {MJ}

49

Day Twenty-Three

Jewel's POV:

I stepped out of Michael's house and locked the door behind me. I just wanted to take a short walk to clear my head. I needed to think things through.

I walked down the street as the sun reflected off of my necklace.

8.

My confidence was starting to fade away. Thoughts of what seemed to be my inevitable death haunted me.

If he struggled so much to choose between Jessie and me, did he really love me to begin with?

Did he even love either one of us?

I had to focus less on him just saying it, and more on him meaning it. If he said it and didn't mean it, because I would know, it'd hurt a lot worse than him not saying it at all.

If he needed the time to truly mean it, then I'd give it to him. I only worried that it wouldn't be in time.

It was hard not to give up. I grasped onto every reason why I had a chance.

He put away all the pictures of Jessie. That was a good sign, right? After doing that, he couldn't possibly go back to her.

Right?

I turned the corner, preparing myself for what I knew was about to happen.

"Hello, Jewel!" Ms. Daphne called as I walked past her house.

I forced a smile and started up the path to her porch. "Hi, Ms. Daphne."

"How are you doing on this fine day?" She asked.

I shrugged. "I'm doing okay."

"Where's Michael?" She cooed.

His name made me weak to my core. I wasn't sure if it was in the goo way anymore. "He's out fishing with his friend."

She nodded. "I should've known. That boy loves the ocean." She said. "Don't you?"

I nodded. "Yes, of course! The ocean is my home." I said.

She smiled at me. "Your eyes are as crystal blue as the ocean, sweetheart." She said. "They're welcoming, but mysterious. I bet there's a lot that people don't know about you."

I suppressed my confused expression. How did she get all that just from looking into my eyes?

How was she absolutely right?

I tucked my hair behind my ear. "That's true, yes."

"They're just like the ocean in more ways then one. Michael and I would always talk about how mysterious the ocean is. No one really knows what goes on down there." She said.

I held up my act. "You're right, we don't."

"My grandfather would always tell me this story regarding his experience on the ocean. He swore this was a true story until the day he died. Do you mind if I share it with you?" She asked.

I didn't think I had much of a choice, so I said yes.

"My grandfather fought in the navy during the World War One-"

"I'm sorry to interrupt, but what's the navy?" I asked.

She laughed with a grin. "Oh it's alright, sweetheart. The navy is part of our army that fights battles on ships." She explained.

"Oh." I said. "Continue."

"One night, he was out on the deck of the ship to be on the lookout for any of the enemies' ships. While he was supposed to be watching, he fell asleep. In the middle of the night, a woman came to him- mind you, they're in the middle of the Pacific Ocean and there were only men on this ship- and she woke him up to warn him of the incoming enemy ships. Now you may be wondering where this woman came from right?"

I nodded. "Where did she come from?"

"My grandfather told me she was a mermaid. He said that he fell in love with her, and she fell in love with him. It was because of her that their ship didn't get attacked. Sadly, they could've never been together. All his life, he would speak of his lost love. The mermaid named Anita."

My eyes widened. Anita?

That was my great grandmother's name. This had to be a crazy coincidence.

She continued. "My grandmother hated when he would talk about Anita. I can hear her now. She'd always say, 'Darryl! Stop telling those kids that stupid fairytale!"

Darryl?

I was in utter shock. I couldn't believe it. She read the surprise on my face and laughed.

"I know, I know, it's crazy!" She said. "I love a good story, even if it's fake. He swore to us that this was true. Even to someone like me, this was a little out there."

I frowned as she continued to laugh. Why didn't humans believe in mermaids? We're just as real as they are. Even someone like Ms. Daphne couldn't believe it.

"Wow." I said. "That's... crazy."

"I know! A mermaid and a human would never go well together. Even if it is true, I can't believe my grandfather would be foolish enough to fall for someone who's from a completely different world."

My heart shattered.

Maybe Michael wasn't confused. Maybe he was just smart.

"Well, I won't hold you any longer, darling." Ms. Daphne said. "Enjoy the rest of your day!"

I waved goodbye before walking down from her porch and continuing down the street.

I tried to push Ms. Daphne's words out of my head. I couldn't stomach that thought.

Someone in my lineage must've done something terrible. Why had I been cursed like this? Was this a curse for what my great grandmother did? Maybe I was being punished like this by Neptune because my great grandmother fell in love with a human. Maybe I had to suffer.

I was a mermaid. Why did I have to fall in love with a human? Why did I have to go through this? If I had just been born on the surface, I wouldn't have to worry about this. I'd be his perfect match. We'd be just like each other.

But we weren't.

It had to be possible for us to mix. Don't opposites attract? A man from the surface and a girl from the sea could be the perfect balance.

Even if it hadn't happened before, I'd be the first. I had to be.