Chapter 1: Heartbroken

Aquatia's POV

Thinking back on my 18 years alive so far, it seems like such a long time. Most of my life I've spent growing up in the city of Macropolis, hidden deep in the South Pacific and I've watched the city change and grow with the tide.

My golden tail is supposed to bring me fortune but the abilities I have has only served to make my life worse. I can change my appearance but what does it matter when my tail remains golden, still revealing to everyone who I am? Manipulating water is more useful, I guess, but it can also backlash if I don't control it correctly. And changing the weather is no point because this deep underwater the weather doesn't affect us either way. Any other abilities like speak every human and fish language, or turning my tail into legs, is something all mer-people can do. So in the end I don't feel very special.

But perhaps that also has something to do with my foster parents' hobby of hurling insults and abuse in my direction. Either way I feel like just another face in the crowd. Mer-people are by no means even near extinction since we dwell in oceans all over the world, however we are careful enough that stories about us has turned to myth. It helps that our human legs don't turn to tails once they get wet when we visit land, unlike what popular stories claim. Being a "myth" gives us the advantage of living in peace since we have no reason to wage war in the first place.

But now tahat I stand in front of the door to my boyfriend's apartment I realize I've gotten lost in thought again. I'm going to surprise him since it's our one year anniversary today. I have bought a small jelly cake for two and a small silver chain necklace for him to celebrate. He's the only one who's made an effort to get to know me and see me as something more than a golden tail. 

As I open the door to his apartment I hear noises coming from upstairs. I guess he must be watching a movie or something since it's Saturday. For some reason he loves human western movies, which I've told him countless times makes no sense.

Anyway, I open the door to his bedroom ready to scream surprise but my voice gets stuck in my throat as I take in the sight in front of me. My boyfriend Jason is in the middle of screwing the school slut Tiffania and they haven't even noticed I'm here yet because they're so into it.

So I do the most logical thing and throw the jelly cake at them which grabs their attention when it splashes all over them. First they seem confused but then Tiffania seems angry meanwhile Jason looks very guilty. I just throw the necklace at him, even hitting him smack dab in the face, and leave as fast as I can. Since my golden tail gives my strength and speed an additional boost I use that to my advantage and in a matter of seconds I'm back in my own room where I trow myself on the bed and start crying until I fall asleep. I truly thought Jason cared about me.

When I wake up it's dark outside and the clock on my wall says 1.23am. I realize that everything is real, I didn't just dream about the betrayal but I refuse to cry. I am stronger than this and I will show them. I grab two suitcases and start packing my most important belongings in one of them and my clothes in the other. When I'm done it's only been 30 minutes. I don't own very much because my foster parents don't like me and says that buying things for me is a waste. My real parents died when I was five and I have been living in different foster homes ever since. Anyway, I grab a pen and paper from my writing desk and write a note.

"Dear whoever reads this,

I have ran away to start a new life somewhere else. I know that no one is going to miss me but just in case, don't come looking for me. I promise you won't find me. I will live a new life where people will care for and love me, not just pretend to. And I will be happy. Goodbye forever!

Jason, you clearly prefer action over words and now there is nothing stopping you. Have a great life with that slut of yours.

Aquatia"

I leave the note on my bed and take a last glance at my small room before I swim out the window not once looking back, knowing that it might change my mind. Instead I just keep on swimming. I don't know where I'm heading but I have a gut feeling which I follow north. I let my thoughts wander as I swim further and further away from Macropolis.

It takes a few days of swimming where I barely stop to eat and sleep before I finally know I'm close to land.  I can see the beach on the horizon to my right. I swim closer and find a small cave underwater where I put my suitcases and can sleep in peace knowing that I'm not visible from the surface. So I let the exhaustion get to me and I drift off into a deep sleep.

When I wake up it's already sunset the next day so I guess I've slept for more than a day. And so I stretch my arms and my tail out and swim to the surface. I can see a town a bit further away from where I am but around here it's deserted.

I make a bold move and lift myself up on one of the big rocks that reach over the waterline. I sit there and watch as the sun sets and the colors shift from yellow to orange to pink. It's beautiful. As I sit there I remember my home and start singing. I sing about everything that's weighing me down. I sing in an ancient language to my ancestors above, hoping that they will hear me.

"Far away, in the ocean deep, lies my heart and home 

The place I left behind, reminding me of happiness and love

But I won't look behind me for a strong wind is blowing on my back

Telling me to keep on going and find happiness once again

And I know that whichever path I choose will eventually lead me home

So don't cry for me, if it's meant we shall meet again

Goodbye my loved ones, remember me

For we shall meet again"

I sing this song over and over as a prayer to the ocean below and the sky above while a few tears slip out and roll down my cheeks. But as I watch the sunset and get lost in my song I know in my heart that everything is going to be alright.