It's been a week since I told Lexi. she took it well, which surprised me. We resumed our friendship like nothing had happened. Her attitude about it just made me fall deeper in love.

     I'm walking along the beach alone. I'm no longer homesick - I've grown to love the human world. The sun is just setting, its orange and red streaks peeking over the ocean's calm waves. Soft clouds dot the sky, their undersides painted orange by the sunlight.   

   The water rushes close to me, then draws back. It doesn't come far enough to reach my path. Until now.

     The cool water gently touches my ankles as another wave rises. At least, it felt gentle at first before I couldn't step out...?!

     Thin streaks of water snake up my legs and bind them together. I can't move. What's happening?

     I topple over onto the sand and the water starts dragging me towards the shoreline. I struggle, but nothing happens. I am up to my knees in the ocean now and shells on the ocean floor scratch my legs like a million blades of glass. I continue to struggle as the water pulls me down, down, down, and then I realize:

What will happen when I submerge fully? Will I be able to breathe or will I drown?

      I'm in up to my neck, and the water tickles at my chin and ears. I'm now a few feet from the shoreline. All of a sudden, I feel a great big tug pull me down, submerging me completely and rocketing me to the ocean floor. I hold my breath just to be safe. 

     But hold on now.

     I look around. Saltwater isn't stinging my eyes. I don't feel like I'm drowning. I try to kick my legs, but I can't.

I look down.

My legs aren't there.

Just a blue, shimmering tail. 

I inhale.

It was just like breathing oxygen on the surface. 

I'm a...mermaid again?