I never told anyone what happened on that exam evening. How could I? I couldn’t talk to my friends, since they didn’t believe in mermaids. I couldn’t tell my family. A confession sounded crazy even in my own head. How could I tell my mother that her only son had homosexual sex with a monster that murdered our grandfather? How could I talk about it without sounding like a lunatic? I had sex with a mermaid. A creature of the ocean. Someone everyone considered to be a beast. And it was a guy. That fact added a whole other level of self-discovery. I didn’t know what to think. I didn’t know how to live with it. With myself. With the experience I had. And the only person I could possibly talk about it with I never wanted to see again. Ramon disgusted me. The way he used us. The way he treated us. He lied about the purpose of the exam, so what else could he be lying about? Also, everyone always told me the monsters didn’t know our language, yet the creature spoke to me. It thanked me. In my language. I was lost.

  The time passed. Soon after that evening, our small group of six had graduated this hell. At our humble ceremony, Ramon gave us our certificates. When I went on the podium before our classroom’s chalkboard and everyone clapped, I looked into the teacher’s eyes, seeing nothing but utter disgust. He thought of me as much as I did of him. He hated me for stealing what he assumed was his pleasure. I hated him for all the torture and abuse he put me, my classmates, and that mermaid through. I received the piece of paper I suffered for, and I kept quiet. Ramon was always a respected man. Our town loved him as an expert and a role model of righteous life. No one would believe me if I told the truth. Also, no one would care for the suffering of a creature everyone called a monster. And who would care about me? I signed up for it. I could have left at any point, like Felix and Hugo. Yet I stayed. Persevered just like our wise teacher taught us. Like a loyal pup, I danced to his flute, obeying his commands up until the last day. When I walked out of that old building with that stupid paper in my fist, I couldn’t believe I put myself through it all just for this.

  The next day came around. The world wasn’t waiting for me to get back on my feet. Twenty-one years old by then, and I felt like I was starting from zero. I applied for a job on a fishing boat. With the certificate on “surviving mermaids”, the interview process was short. In a week, I was already in training, learning nets and rods, harpoons, and more. I never thought it was that complicated. Navigating on the water, the technology commercial fishing required. I had to learn and remember it all, but at least I was finally out in the ocean. At first, it was sad to see all that fish being grabbed and packaged to be killed later. However, after some time, I got more used to it. Becoming a full member on the boat took two months. Another four, I finally could work without supervision. We spent days on the water, then rested for a couple on the shore. Time was flying by.

  One late evening in December, I was strolling along the beach. The weather was stable, temperature moderate. I was still wearing a suit and tie from the event Ramon had organised for former graduates. He wanted to see the ones he taught and if it worked out for them. I attended just because I wanted to see my former classmates. I did, but it was outright boring. I sneaked out and went straight to the water. I craved the comfort of the ocean. My fancy shoes in my hands with socks in them. The cold sand under my feet, seeping between my fingers. Small waves crashed against the shore with a pleasant sound. The ocean was singing to me, speaking to me, and I heard its calling. I walked aimlessly in one direction, looking at my footsteps sinking into the wet sand. When I finally raised my gaze, I saw familiar cliffs surrounding me. I ended up on the same beach it all happened. I stopped, staring into the horizon. I recalled that evening in my head. The big full moon lit up the surface of the ocean as if it was day. Stars in the clear sky reflected on the peaceful water. I thought of that male mermaid I encountered half a year back.

  Suddenly, I heard it. A scream. A shrieking sound like that day. In the low waves showed two lines. Something was swimming towards the beach with great speed. I stood on the edge of the water, waves caressing my feet from time to time. I couldn’t move. Then I saw a silhouette closing in to the shallow water. As dark brown hair and blue eyes rose in front of me, I recognised him. It was the same mermaid I had just remembered. As if knowing about my thoughts, he came to me.

  “Hello,” he spoke.

  His velvet voice left no trace of previous high notes. As he greeted me with a slightly worried look, I felt my mouth open, yet I couldn’t utter a word. I stood there, frozen in place, staring at him.

  “I simply wanted to talk,” the mermaid said.

  I took a few steps back and fell on the sand. My jaw still hanging open as if I had seen a ghost. Sitting on the ground, hands in unsteady terrain, I couldn’t feel my tongue. I should have said something, but I couldn’t. At that moment, the mermaid pulled its tail closer and under himself, sitting on it like people do on their knees. In the shallow water, he sat quietly. Waiting.

  “Hi,” finally words came out with an exhale.

  “Hi,” the mermaid repeated calmly.

  The sound of the water was filling the silence.

  Stolen from Royal Road, this story should be reported if encountered on Amazon.

  “What’s your name?” I asked.

  I still can’t figure out why I asked that. I think I was so shocked that my brain reverted to what it was familiar with: when meeting new people, you ask their name. The creature thought for a moment before answering:

  “I think in your language it would translate as Sakharkarkhan.”

  “Sak-har-kark-han,” I repeated back.

  “Yes,” the mermaid nodded. “And your?”

  “Isaac,” I replied.

  I felt tongue-tied and curious at the same time. It was as if my mouth produced questions without my awareness:

  “What did you want to talk about?”

  “That time about six months ago.”

  There was a note of nervousness in his tone. He seemed a little worried.

  “I wanted to show you something,” the mermaid continued.

  He looked around, then made a quiet screech as he turned to the ocean. Somewhere from the deeper part, a reply reached us. I saw a line coming towards the shore. There was another mermaid. A shadow in the water approached, and a face rose in front of me. It was a female. She had similar pale skin, long black hair that swam around her in the water, and big blue eyes. I was already numb, experiencing nothing but overwhelming surprise. However, then I truly was floored. Next to the female, three little heads showed. They swam in one place, showing just their faces to me. I felt my jaw drop again. They were little children. Not much older than toddlers. One of them seemed to be a girl. She, like her mother, had long black hair and blue eyes. However, the other two were different: short black hair, but big, beautiful green eyes. I thought I recognised those two.

  “This is my mate, Karakhrane, and our children. Technically, your children as well,” Sakharkarkhan explained.

  “Mine?” I mumbled. “Do those two look like me?!”

  “Yes, they do,” the mermaid replied. “Females tend to inherit their mother’s appearance, while males take after the owner of the sperm. In this case, that would be you.”

  As I was too stunned to speak, Sakharkarkhan turned to his companions and said something in their screeching language. The female gave a short reply, then took the kids and disappeared with them into the ocean.

  “I’m sorry I can’t introduce you properly,” the mermaid told me. “I don’t want to put them in danger for much longer.”

  “It’s alright, I get it. You have to protect your family.”

  A slight smile slid over his lips. He still seemed nervous. His body tensed, like he was ready to run at any moment.

  “I wanted you to see the children and ask you something,” Sakharkarkhan continued. “Would you maybe want to meet me more often?”

  I couldn’t stop staring at him. The way moonlight hit his silky skin and made it glisten. The way his shape stood out under the night shine. His big, captivating eyes, his slender body, and the way I wanted to say ‘yes’…

  “You don’t have to—”

  “Yes!” I spoke over him. “Oh, sorry, what were you saying?”

  “You don’t have to, if you don’t want to. I can leave you alone, if you wish.”

  “No, I want to see you more,” I rushed to reply.

  I leaned forward, leaving my shoes in the sand and putting my arms over my knees. The mermaid smiled, showing his teeth. Sharp fangs would look disturbing, if only I wasn’t mesmerised by his presence.

  “We can meet this Saturday during the day if you want. Are you available?” Sakharkarkhan asked.

  I thought for a second. This weekend I would be on shore.

  “Yeah, I am.”

  We sat staring at each other for a little while, the sound of the gentle waves keeping us company. I had no thoughts, no emotions, just pure awe. Then he moved slightly, saying:

  “I suppose I should go.”

  “Wait,” I asked carefully.

  It caught his attention, and he listened.

  “Can I… maybe… touch you?” I hesitated. “Nothing weird, just…”

  I couldn’t find the words to finish my sentence. The mermaid doubted my intentions, yet nodded. I stood up slowly. Walking towards him into the water, I trod warily, not to seem threatening. Despite my trousers being pulled up to my knees, it didn’t save them from getting wet. As I gradually landed in the water on my knees right before him, I could feel the chill of the ocean getting to my legs and hips. He was so close now. I could hear his heavy, worried breathing. His heart was beating so fast, I thought I could see it. His gaze was concerned, yet he stayed. I stretched my hand towards him. My fingertips touched his shoulder tenderly. He flinched slightly at the sensation. At first, I slid my fingers over his skin, then carefully placed my palm. He was real. He was there in front of me. I had doubted my memory all this time. I assumed I might have dreamt it, yet I hadn’t. He was real. Sakharkarkhan was real. His eyes still seemed anxious, following my every move. I acted thoughtfully. Gently, I picked my hand off his shoulder and reached for his face. As my fingertips touched his cheek, he twitched. I waited for him to guide me. The mermaid stared at me with even more doubt. He looked right into my eyes. Those big, hypnotising blue eyes. I don’t know what he saw in me, but the next thing I knew, he exhaled slowly, relaxing his muscles a little. I placed my palm on his cheek. I observed as his gills rose and fell with his breaths. He had such smooth skin. The long dark eyelashes. I explored his face with my gaze and touch. I caressed his cheek. Then I looked at his lips. Fondly, I moved my thumb to them, pressing on them lightly. Sliding my finger across them from the centre to the side. His lips were soft, despite drying out in the air. He didn’t resist at all. He was majestic, otherworldly. Then I realised what I was doing. I exhaled abruptly as my gaze dropped. I made several steps back, still on my knees. Sakharkarkhan observed me silently. I think my shocked expression was as curious to him as he was to me.

  “I’ll see you Saturday,” he said with a shy smile before jumping into the ocean and disappearing into the depths.

  I stood in the water for a little longer. The horizon seemed so distant. Somewhere there… was he. A mermaid I would never forget. I bit my lip, thinking of Saturday. It was as far away as that moon. It couldn’t come soon enough.

  As I walked home with my pants dripping wet and chilled wind sneaking around my legs, I replayed the encounter in my head. There were children. My children. Does that mean I’m their father? Do mermaids have rules for the human fathers of their children? What did it all mean for me now? Why was I chosen for this?