Melissa looked down at the note in her hands, clutching it tightly between her fingers and wishing that she wasn’t trembling. Whatever it was…she wasn’t going to like it. Not with Emily acting that way about it.
Emily had sunk to the ground, looking miserable. Unable to meet Melissa’s eye.
With a deep breath, Melissa read the note.
Dear Melissa,
Or, well, a friend of Melissa’s. If that rain keeps up, I doubt you’ll be able to return by yourself. I haven’t see anything on the news at the time of writing this, so I’ll assume you haven’t been caught. Yet.
Whoever this…how stupid do you think I am? Do you actually think I’d just stay behind and wait for you or one of your friends to ambush me in the middle of the night? Give me a little credit, sweetie. I have a brain and I’m not afraid to use it. I told you I was stealing your life – I didn’t mean it literally. I’m stealing your human life. There’s no way I could accurately impersonate you, even if we do look alike. Like I said, I’m not stupid. I have no plans to stick around.
I’m not staying. I’m getting as far away from the ocean, and you, as possible. Try to find me if you want, but here’s a little secret for you – my name isn’t actually Serenity. I had another name, once. I’ll keep that to myself, and I don’t plan on using it again. As much as I’d like to visit my family again, it’s too much of a risk. Even if you do find out who I was, good luck trying to find me at home. You know nothing about me. You’ll never be able to find me. You’re welcome to try, but it’s just going to be a waste of time.
Since I’m sharing secrets, I might as well mention one more – I wasn’t exactly telling the truth about the curse. I feel a little bad about that one. It can indeed be transferred by a kiss…but it won’t change you back. And whoever you kiss will transform and become a mermaid as well. So be wary. Try not to kiss any girls.
You might think that I’m cruel. I’m not trying to be. But I have worked for too long to be free of this curse. I used to be a human girl, like you. I was tricked by a mermaid, just as I tricked you. Except, instead of wanting to trade places, she simply wanted me to be with her. For a time, it was nice. But I grew tired of the ocean. I wanted my life…any life…back. I spent fifteen years searching for a way to do it. And I finally found it.
That reminds me. One last thing. As a mermaid, you won’t age. So there’s that, at least. Perhaps someday you can find the solution that I found, and free yourself. Or not. Either way, you won’t be seeing me again.
Good luck in your new life.
-Serenity
Melissa lowered the note.
No. No…no. No. It couldn’t be. It was another lie. That’s what Serenity did. She lied. This couldn’t be it. She couldn’t be stuck like this.
“What is it?” Stefanie demanded, looking at Emily, and then Melissa. “What is it? Tell me, damn it!”
Melissa closed her eyes. Stefanie…she was stuck like this too. She didn’t know.
For a moment, she was tempted to keep it that way. But she deserved to know. She passed Stefanie the note in silence.
As she read, Melissa stared at Emily. Emily had to hate her. She had to. Melissa wished Emily would just attack her. She wouldn’t stop her. She deserved it. She’d damned herself, and damned her sister.
As though she could hear Melissa’s thoughts, Emily glanced up. She caught Melissa’s eyes. Melissa wanted to say something, anything, but there wasn’t anything to say. What could she say? Gee, I’m sorry that your sister kissed me, and now we’re both stuck as immortal mermaids, and that if we kiss anyone, ever, they’ll be stuck like that too. My bad.
Emily scooted over to Melissa. She lifted an arm, and Melissa flinched, squeezing her eyes shut.
But all Emily did was put an arm around her, and draw Melissa into an embrace. She felt Emily’s hair trickle across her shoulder, and Melissa let out a sigh and released the tension.
“I’m sorry,” Emily murmured.
Melissa just hugged her.
Stefanie finished reading the note. She set it down on the toilet seat, eyes wide.
“Well...shit,” she finally said.
The three girls sat in the bathroom in silence. Two mermaids, one human.
“What do we do now?” Stefanie finally asked.
It was a good question. But Melissa didn’t have an answer for her.