| The Beginning of the End |
| I awoke the next morning (or should I say afternoon) expecting to find Seraphina still nestled in my arms. However, she was gone. At first I panicked. Where had she gone? Was she okay? I sat up in a cold sweat, perspiration beading up on my forehead. That's when I saw the note taped to the mirror. I folded the note and stuck it in my wallet, remembering why she went back to the ocean. She could only be out for twelve hours. I didn't know what would happen if she were out for longer. But if it meant she got hurt, I didn't want to find out. I threw on my jean shorts and a wife-beater and walked out into the living room. Kevin and Kristin were sitting on the sofa reading the newspaper and drinking coffee. AJ was still in bed, nursing one hell of a hangover. Brian and Leighanne were cooking lunch. And Howie snoozed in the recliner. "Mornin' all," I said upon entering the living room. Kevin grunted a good morning. Kristin smiled brightly at me. And Howie snored on. 'A happenin' room right here,' I thought sarcastically. I sauntered into the kitchen. "Hey, Bri. Leigh. What's shakin'?" I asked, slapping Brian a high five and kissing Leighanne's cheek. "Good morning, Nickolas," Leighanne cooed, leaning into the kiss. "We're packing a picnic lunch for the beach," Leighanne explained. "You coming?" I nodded emphatically. Anything to get to the beach. Even put up with the posse I'm always with. "When do we go?" I asked, my excitement growing with every passing second. Millisecond even. "Half-hour, bro," Brian said. "Seraphina coming? Is she still sleeping?" Brian asked as he smeared mayonaise on some bread. "No. She left early this morning. I don't know if she'll be there or not," I replied. "She's really nice. I like her a lot," Leighanne said as she tossed the salad. "Me too," I said in return. I helped Brian load the Jeep with towels and blankets, beach equipment, and the picnic basket. Fifteen minutes later we were all crammed into the Jeep on our way to the beach for some fun in the sun. Although I looked all afternoon, I didn't see my mermaid Seraphina. In fact I didn't see her again until the night before we were supposed to leave for home. Knock. Knock. Aj opened the cabin door. "Hey, baby doll. How've you been?" AJ said as Seraphina stepped in. "You want to see Nick?" he asked. Seraphina nodded. "Nicky, there's a sexy woman here to see you!" AJ shouted. "Seraphina!" I thought aloud. I ran to Seraphina and scooped her up in my arms and swung her around, kissing her lips again and again. I led Seraphina to my room and shut the door behind us. "Where did you go? Why haven't I heard from you?" I asked, sitting down on my bed. "Don't worry about that. I'm here now," she replied, embracing me tightly. I kissed her neck and collar bones lightly as she held me to her breast. "Make love to me," she whispered huskily. I pulled back and looked into her ocean blue eyes. They vividly displayed the love and curiousity that I myself felt for her. I rose from the bed and locked the door. "No," Seraphina said. "Let's go to our beach." I unlocked the door and grabbed a blanket from my closet. "Let's go, sweetheart," I said, taking her hand in mine. "Where are the love birds off to?" AJ asked as Seraphina and I walked out the door. "For a drive you nosy bastard," I answered jokingly. "Have a good time," he said, waving. Seraphina smiled at him. We climbed into the Jeep and drove to our beach. I spread the blanket out on the sand still warm from that afternoon's blazing sun. I laid Seraphina on the blanket and kissed the piece of stomach peeking out from the same halter she wore a week earlier. My hands carsessed her smooth, perfect legs. My lips never left her flesh. My nervous fingers untied the string around Seraphina's neck and slowly, I pulled it down over her breasts, exposing her perfection. I kissed every inch of flesh I exposed. I wanted to take it slow, but Seraphina had other things in mind. Her hands gripped the collar of my t-shirt. In one swift motion, she ripped the shirt open, baring my chest. Within minutes were were both naked, making love on the sands of our beach. Her moans of pleasure echoed off the bluffs. Her moans were music to my ears. Afterward we laid next to each other, my arms wrapped around her naked body. I wanted to lay like that forever, but knew that was impossible. "Seraphina, I'm leaving tomorrow. We'll probably never see each other again," I said, the tears welling up in my eyes. Seraphina sat up and looked lovingly at my face. "We will see each other again. We can see each other forever," Seraphina replied, wiping away a tear that had fallen from my eye. "How do you mean?" I asked. "Come with me. Come live with me in the sea for all eternity," she whispered. Leave my family, my friends, my life? Could I do that? "Seraphina," I sighed, cupping her face with my hands. "I can't leave everything behind. I love you with all my heart, but we come from two different worlds. Neither of us would be happy living in the other's world for all eternity," I explained. Seraphina's eyes glistened with unshed tears. I stroked her cheek, tears of my own falling freely down my face. "I understand. You're right," Seraphina whispered, her head down, the tears dripping off her nose. She kissed me lightly. "I will never forget you," she stated as she stood up and walked back to the sea. I sat there and watched as inch by inch she disappeared under the bluish-black evening water, knowing I'd never see her again. Her head went under and she vanished from my sight forever. That was the last time I saw my mermaid. I sat on the beach and cried. Cried like I had never cried before and would never like to cry again. A fire burned in my chest and I felt my heart breaking. I stayed there until midnight, watching the rolling waves hit the dark sand, before returning to the cabin to pack. |
| "Back to ocean. I love you," it read. |