But why change back? She'd been swimming all her life and had been practically obsessed with mermaids as a child. Life back home was loud and uncertain. The ocean, despite the occasional storm, always seemed so much more peacful. Why not just swim away and leave it all behind?
Marina dove down, leaving the surface behind. She took a tenative breath and was not surprised to find herself breathing underwater. She swam on, making her her second dive of the day. Her experience with a monofin proved useful, but with a real tail she could swim faster and manuever better than she ever could before. It was really an amazing experience. She could even see clearer than she had with her goggles, although she was still limited by how far the sunlight penetrated the water.
As she swam, Marina thought more about her life. Would her family and friends understand if she left suddenly? Would they understand and accept her decision if she told them the improbably truth: that magic medallion had turned her into a mermaid? Should she at least try to return the boat back to shore? Should she bring human gear with her to start a new life as a mermaid or strike out with nothing but her tail and her wits?
She found herself back at the boat where her swim had begun. Daylight was running out. If she was going to return the boat and say her goodbyes before swimming away, the time to go back was now.
What should she do?