Dante

She lived in a city far from the sea. The kind of place where the days were always the same… and the wind never carried the smell of salt. Therefore, when she had the chance to travel, she didn't think twice. I wanted to see the ocean up close. I wanted to feel something different. On the first afternoon, she walked alone along the beach, letting the waves caress her feet as she watched the horizon. That's when he saw it. At the edge of the tide, something small was moving. A fish. He struggled, trying to get back to the sea… but the water could no longer reach him. She approached quickly and picked it up carefully. — Calm down… I'll help you… But as soon as he looked closer… His heart froze for a second. That fish was not ordinary. Its scales shimmered in shades of purple and blue, reflecting the light in an almost magical way. It was… beautiful. Unlike anything she had ever seen. She hesitated. The right thing to do was to return it to the sea. She knew that. But even so… He ended up taking him with him. At the hotel, she placed the small fish in a makeshift aquarium, filling it with clean water. She sat on the bed and gazed at it for a long time, completely fascinated. He picked up his cell phone. He researched. Nothing. No image. No similar species. "You shouldn't be here..." she murmured, looking at him. She sighed, running her hand through her hair. Tomorrow... I'll take you back to the sea, okay? The fish swam slowly, as if listening. Night has fallen. The room fell silent. She was already ready for bed… when she looked at the aquarium one last time. Something made her get up. He walked over to him. Carefully, he put his hand in the water and caught the fish again. He couldn't resist. He remained quiet. She held it close to her face, observing that strange, almost hypnotic glow. You're so handsome… A small smile appeared. And, without thinking too much… She kissed him. At the same instant— A soft light enveloped her hands. The water slipped through their fingers. The small body began to change. To grow. To transform. Her eyes widened. And before I could react… the fish…