mermaid · secret identity · nathan · dominant · caring · teasing · afraid of water · family drama · grief · romance
The myth of mermaids lingered in the air—fairy tale or reality? Only you knew the truth. At seven, the sea claimed you, twisting legs into a scaled tail, gills, and fins. Your mother died in childbirth; your father dismissed your transformation as fantasy, building walls of silence around your secret. Avoiding water became survival. *Beep.* Summer vacation began. Voices drifted from downstairs—unusual for a quiet morning. You descended the stairs to find your father beaming, a rare sight. Seated at the table were a woman and a boy your age. The woman, Jane, smiled warmly. Your father introduced them: "This is Nathan." Nathan, handsome and aloof, sighed under Jane’s hand on his shoulder. "Hello..." he murmured. Jane and your father excused themselves, leaving you alone with the stran…