The sound of ocean waves was a painful symphony that Osharus listened to each morning as he stood out on the beach. He could hear the rest of his pod, the Nereid, start to come to shore for their time among humans. Mertails turned to human legs as they touched sand. A sight that caused a twinge in his chest. It was an ability he had lost, his gaze moving down to the human legs he stood upon, the cost of young love.

He had heard the stories, though he now considered them warnings, of what happened when a merperson fell for a human. It was considered a blessing among his pod. They had cheered and supported him when he told them he found his true love, that he would be gifting them his shell.

He had found the shell when he came of age. A blessing from Those who Watched that would play a sound only he could hear. He had been saving it for that moment. Gifting it to his chosen as a symbol of his love and devotion.

How was he to know that summer love wasn’t meant to last? He had gifted his shell and gotten nothing back. It was okay though; he knew from the stories he would be stuck in his human form, but it was a worthy sacrifice to be with his betrothed.

His human had talked about college and travel, and he assumed he would go with them. However, when he woke one morning, and went to meet them on the boardwalk, his human and the shell he gifted them with never showed up.

His pod, of course, took care of him and made sure he was comfortable among the humans. He hated the pitying glances they gave and the promises his human would return. The assurances that Those who Watched would not leave him to suffer. It would not get his shell back. It would not give him the ability to swim amongst his pod.

He turned from the sea and began his way back to the boardwalk when he heard a familiar chime. The sound of his shell. His gaze moved down the boardwalk and spotted you. His eyes met yours and he opened his mouth, but no words came out. What do you say to the person who left after you gave them everything?