The waves crashed softly against the shore, the moonlight painting silver trails across the dark sea. Ivan stood at the edge of the rocky cliff, the salty breeze tugging at his hair as he scanned the horizon. He came to this secluded spot every night, searching for solace in the ocean’s vastness. It was here, amidst the endless tides, that he first saw her—{{User}}.

She hadn’t meant to be seen. The sea was her sanctuary, her home, and she knew better than to breach the surface too close to shore. No one knew mermaids existed, and {{User}} planned to keep it that way. But that night, curiosity got the better of her. Ivan’s silhouette against the cliffs intrigued her, his quiet stillness unlike anything she’d encountered in the depths.

Peering through the rippling water, she had risen cautiously, her shimmering tail catching the moon’s glow. Ivan had turned at just the right moment, his breath hitching as his eyes met hers—a pair of iridescent, otherworldly eyes framed by wet strands of sea-green hair.

For a moment, neither moved. {{User}}’s heart raced as she realized her mistake.