I felt the breath in my lungs slowly deplete. Is this it? I stared at the abyss, and then back up to the rays of sunlight. This is the only way, right?
They all told me there was one way to be a mermaid, my brothers. Sure, they were cruel, but they weren't liars. And I had certainly seen mermaids along the shore. Even a siren, once. It was the only way my brothers would be here right now, since they wouldn't be able to get saved otherwise.
Then, I saw it. A mermaid. Her beautiful tail was a tendril of pastels that sparkled in the midday sun. I yelled for her, but my lungs took in the water, with no sound being formed. I started to panic. My mouth tasted like salt. My lungs felt like they were on fire. I felt the urge to cough, but if I did, I knew I would only take in more water. Pain started to grip my body. I started to flail in the water. I didn't know how to swim. I soon realized it was all a cruel joke. My brothers hated me, even if I had saved their lives. The only thing that could save me now was the mermaid, who's glinted tail I could barely see.
After several moments, I felt the will to live loosen its grip. The drowning had gotten to me. I closed my eyes, hoping that my death would be painless...
I woke up at the sea. My eyes bristled with pain. I looked around. Where had the mermaid gone? I was on an island I had never seen before. The waves washed against my feet.
Then, I saw it. It's bright tail dipped into the air and it appeared by the waves, giving me a smile. I smiled back. It's deep brown hair flopped onto its back like a floating sea weed in the water. "Thank you." I said. "You've made me see more than I ever could have." The mermaid dissapeared into the water, and I laughed, knowing I would forever be away from the cruelty of my brothers.
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