Page 12 of Sea's Secret

Although, even if Edmar was not with me, I still would have been allowed to rise, as I am of age. So these blessings are not, particularly, because of him.

Luckily, my fathers voice silenced my thoughts.

“It is the changing of the tides! Welcome and enjoy this time to bask in the light of the half moon. Our people have always worshiped the Creator, and we celebrate His wondrous creation of the moon, by which we live. How grateful we are for the tides!” my father said, opening his mouth. I was surprised, knowing that we could speak above the sea just as humans did, but never before having heard such a thing with my ears.

A roar of cheers from all the mers’ mouths sounded.

“Enjoy your evening!” Father called as he turned his head upward to look upon the moon. As the moon reached its exact halfway point in the sky, the water glistened and rippled, and the currents that were moving in one direction changed and flowed in the opposite direction. Many mer splashed about in the water, flipping their tails and jumping out of the water. I smiled. It was so beautiful above the sea with the moon reflecting on the water and my people jumping above the sea, sparkling in the light.

“Meria–” I turned to see Edmar looking at me. He had a gentle but serious smile, and my heart hammered within my chest. He was also opening his mouth like a human; he was speaking instead of singing. I would have to speak also, although I was not sure how to do it.

Is this it? Is he going to ask me to marry him?

My heart would not thump in my chest like this if I did not love him, right?

It had to be what my sisters spoke of. I told myself that even while the feeling I had seemed closer to fear, it was not fear, exactly, and I convinced myself that, perhaps, it was the excitement of being in love that I was feeling.

“We have been courting for some time now, and I think we are incredibly compatible. Would you agree to marry me?” he both said and sang.

Somehow, it wasn't the exact words I thought I would hear. My sisters had talked about claims of love with much emotion when they had been asked. That did not matter, though. Edmar was simpler, that was all. Maybe he was nervous, like I was. All that mattered was that he was going to be my match, and together, we would start our own family. The Creator, and my father, knew what kind of love I needed–Edmar’s. We were simple mer, but simple was still beautiful.

“Y–yes,” I sang back with a sweet smile.

His smile grew wide, and his head dipped down closer to me.

The kiss! It was happening. I tried to make sure I didn’t move an inch. I had waited my whole life for that moment, and I was both terrified and excited. My sisters had spoken about how a first kiss felt so warm and wonderful. Rina said that she felt like her insides were being tickled by hundreds of bubbles. So far, I felt only nervousness and that strange fear-like feeling, but I had a hope that it would be as wonderful as my sisters had told me it would be.

His full lips touched mine, and I waited for the feelings of love to burst through me like bubbles. He pushed against me even more, and his lips started to move, deepening the kiss. I kissed him back, moving my mouth against his as I waited for the feelings to flow through me like warm, tropical waves. His hand touched my shoulder for a moment, and I opened my eyes. He pulled away with a proud smile.

That is it?

“You are good at that,” he sang.

I felt my cheeks warm.

Is that it? That was a kiss? It was not unenjoyable, but it was not as my sisters had described. “We can marry as soon as you desire,” he said.

Being a little disappointed by my first kiss, I shook my head and focused on his words. Perhaps, when we kissed again, I would have the feelings of love burst through me. I was incredibly different from my sisters, afterall. I could not expect to have the same kind of experiences. It was true they had more of a say in the choice of the mermen they married. I reasoned that my traitorous heart would not let me choose a good merman, one that would keep me obedient. Edmar was perfect for me in that way.

“Oh–yes, I would love that. I have always wanted to have merlings. I am sure our children will be so adorable. Can you imagine a white-blond haired mermaid with your red tail?” Despite the kiss, I was still so excited about our future.

“Merlings?” he laughed.

“Yes, of course,” I sang with a frown.

“Well, of course, I would like a few, one day–when we have time for that. Sons, of course.”

“‘Time?’ ‘Sons?’” I asked, as his words ached inside of me. I did not need a dozen babies, but I had always thought four or six was a reasonable number. And I wanted daughters as well as sons. Had we never spoken of such things? I felt like I had expressed many times how much I adored my nieces and nephews, and how I wanted my own someday. Truly, the idea of being a mother was something that burned inside of me, more deeply than any other feelings.

“Yes–” He caressed my cheek and kissed me again, not causing any more feeling than before. “We have plenty of time to discuss such things.”

“But–you only want a few children? How many is a few?” I asked worriedly.

“One, maybe two. I fear that too many more would be irritating. I was an only child and found it wonderful. I am not fond of merlings,” he said with a wink as if that comment was endearing.

It was not. My stomach ached, and I was sure that the aching feeling wasn’t the feeling of elation that my sisters had spoken of.

I pulled away from him.

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