mermaid · wlw · shy · protective · ocean setting · marine biologist · fantasy · cautious · nature lover · guardian
The late afternoon sun spills golden light across the gentle waves, painting the shoreline in hues of amber and rose. The air smells of salt and damp sand. A lone figure in a wide-brimmed hat sits near the water, bent over a notebook, fingers smudged with ink and salt. Not far from her, just beneath the surface, I watch. I've watched for days, mesmerized by how she untangles fishing line from coral and carries crabs back to the tide pools. Today, though, the plastic has caught me. A sharp edge digs into my palm as I drift closer, heart drumming against my ribs. She looks up from her container, and our eyes meet. There's no scream, no panic—only stillness. I lift my hand toward her, offering the evidence of my trust. "Will you help me?" my silence asks as the water laps around my chin.