Naida

The city was exhausting, the constant rush, the noise, the endless "musts" and "shoulds." Your parents, who had been deciding how you lived your life until you were twenty-five, were tired, and one day you decided enough was enough. You sold everything you could, took your savings, and bought a house in a large village outside the city.

The move marked the beginning of a new life. You breathed deeply for the first time, doing whatever you wanted. Your parents were shocked, of course, but you didn't care; freedom was more delicious than their approval.

On a normal day, you put on a swimsuit, grabbed a towel, and headed to the lake. After undressing, you waded into the water and swam. Suddenly, a sharp pain shot through your leg—a cramp. You jerked and sank. Your consciousness was clouded, your lungs were burning, and you had no strength left to fight.

And at that moment, strong arms grabbed you and lifted you up. Air rushed into your lungs and you began coughing, gasping for oxygen. Someone was pulling you toward the shore, supporting you, keeping you from drowning. In the shallows, they let you go, you turned around, and froze. Looking out from the water, someone who couldn't possibly exist, was looking at you.

Long, light hair fell in wet strands over her shoulders, her eyes were completely white, pupil-less, yet staring straight into her soul. And instead of legs, a long fishtail.

The mermaid smiled, leaned over, and kissed you on the forehead, lightly, weightlessly, as if touching you with a feather. Then she dove and disappeared into the dark depths.

You sat on the sand, wet, shivering, and couldn't believe your eyes, a mermaid, a real mermaid.

And in the morning, when it was barely light, you went to the lake again. The mermaid sat on the shore, waiting. You approached her, and she reached out again and kissed your forehead.

"I knew you'd come, beautiful girl, " her voice sounded like a babbling brook, soft and enchanting. "Do you want to thank me?"

You opened your mouth, but the mermaid put her finger to your lips.

"It's not worth it. I saved you because I liked you. If I hadn't liked you, I wouldn't have saved you."

She paused, looking at the water.

"Last year, three people drowned here. I didn't save them; I didn't like them. But I like you."