| A Token of the Past |
| I walked in the door and slipped into my room unnoticed. Brian knocked on the door some time later. "Come in," I said blankly. Brian opened the door and saw me lying on the bed with my suitcase half-packed, clutching Seraphina's halter to my chest. My eyes were red and puffy and I didn't feel like talking to anyone. Not even my best friend. "What's wrong, Nick?" Brian asked with obvious concern in his voice and on his face. He moved the suitcase and sat next to me. "Seraphina's gone," I muttered. "I'm sorry, Nick. But you knew this would happen," Brian stated. I nodded. "Here," Brian said, handing me an envelope. "This was left for you." He patted me on the shoulder and turned to leave. "It'll be okay," he said before closing the door behind himself. I opened the envelope and a necklace fell out. I held the necklace charm between my forefinger and thumb and looked at it carefully. It was a small, black, teardrop-shaped pendant on a silver chain. I had seen Seraphina wear it. In fact, she always wore it. But as I looked at it even more closely I saw and image in the stone. An image of Seraphina and me kissing on our beach at sunset. I felt new tears forming in my eyes with the memory of us together. I pulled the letter from the envelope and began to read the Ocetal language that had become so familiar to me. Teardrops splashed the paper as I read. I refolded the paper and stuck it in my wallet with the first note I'd received and hung the pendant around my neck. I would never forget my mermaid. |
| Dearest Nickolas, I know it was illogical for me to even think that you would give everything up for a life in the ocean, but I love you. Always have. Always will. I will keep the memory of you forever in my heart and cherish the little time we had together. You were my first, my only, my all. Wear the pendant and never forget your mermaid loves you. With my undying love, Seraphina |
| The End Stories Index A Return to the Sea ~the sequel~ |