Drip

Drip

Drip

Lyla watched as the water fell like steady teardrops from an unknown place on the roof of the cave. Usually drops of her own would be falling from her eyes, but today she was all cried out.

'I've spent too long dwelling on that silly land boy.' Lyla thought as she pursed her lips, angry at herself for acting like a heartbroken human.

Despite how she wanted to act, Lyla missed Zac. She and Nixie were traveling with the pod, searching for a new home along the coast.

Her heart wasn't in it, though. She swam with the pod each day, following simply because it was easier than not.

She could talk to Nixie about it, but Nixie wouldn't understand. Nixie still wants what is best for the pod. The months they spent on land were simply part of a mission, a mission to help the pod. Now that she is back with all her mermaid friends, she seems to have forgotten about the relationship and friends they made on land.

As Lyla rests her head on her crossed arms, she swishes her tail from side to side in the water behind her, trying to relax. The cave she is in is almost completely dark and she can hear small creatures scurrying on the rocks deep in the darkness.

'I like the dark. It is lonely. And all around you at the same time. No one cares what you look like in the dark. I could be hideous and no one would care… because no one sees you.'

Even though she is surrounded by mermaids that she has always had a deep connection with, Lyla feels lonelier than ever.

'I finally understand how Zac feels. He's all alone up there. Surrounded by people, but they don't understand him. He's different because of his connection with the sea.

Now I'm different because of my connection with the land.'

Lyla shakes her head, trying to break herself out of her thoughts. With a sigh she dives far down into the deep bluish-black water in search of the entrance she used before. When she finds it, she darts out of the cavern and back into the bright aqua water lit up by the sun glimmering through it.

She can see the pod, not far from where she is. All the women and girls are sitting around on some rocks above the water. They're laughing, brushing and braiding one another's hair, telling stories… like sisters. All connected with a bond deeper than any family or friendship.

With a frown, Lyla realizes that she has disconnected herself from it.

She also realizes that she doesn't have any desire to go back.

"Nixie!" Lyla called out as she darted towards her friend.

Nixie's dark hair swirls in the water around her shoulders as she turns and scoops with her hands to keep herself level on the surface.

"What is, Lyla? I'm in a hurry. There's a whole lot of shellfish over there just calling my name. Naira and I are going to go get some for the pod and then we're all going to ride the current out east a ways. Medina said she heard there are some deserted islands up there that may turn out to be the perfect place for the pod to settle down for a while. The hatchlings are starting to tire from all this swimming."

Lyla's eyebrows knitted together, her eyes catching the golden light reflecting off the water.

"I'm leaving." she blurted. Once the words left her mouth, her lips stayed open for a moment as if there was something else she wanted to say but it just wouldn't come out.

"Where to? To look for a different island? I mean, if you aren't keen of going east you could bring it up with the mermaid council-"

"I mean I am leaving the pod. I can't… I just can't. Not after… it's not right."

"Lyla… I don't understand. Everything's been fine! We've been welcomed back into the pod, we've been forgiven for the mistakes we made with that land boy situation. It's in the past! Everything is back to normal!"

"It's not normal. It doesn't feel like it used to."

"The pod hasn't changed!"

"No. I've changed." Lyla said quietly, almost a whisper. Her voice was carried off by the ocean wind, but Nixie heard her.

Both girls float for a moment, silent as they stare into each other's eyes as if they can find the solution within them. Nixie looks away, pulled back into her own reality where everything is perfect and the sisterhood of the pod is the solution to everything.

"Maybe you haven't tried hard enough. You can start to socialize more, reach out. Some of the younger girls have been looking for someone to teach them new ways to make shell necklaces! You can join Naira and me today, and tomorrow we can talk to some of the older mermaids and see if there is anything you can do to help with the hatchlings-"

"Nixie… I'm sorry."

Nixie just looked at Lyla, a single tear falling from her eye that could easily be mistaken for one of the many drops of seawater on her face.

"Why?" Nixie asked, her voice cracking.

"I'm different now. I've seen more than the rest of the pod has…"

"It's all because of that stupid land boy! If we hadn't gone on land, everything could still be fine. None of this would have happened if we'd never gotten involved!"

"I don't regret anything. I'm not upset with anyone. This is just the way things are." Lyla said, resolved but distant.

"So what are you going to do? Just roam the sea by yourself? Be a loner?" Nixie asked in an almost accusatory voice.

"I've always been a loner." Lyla said with a slight smile.

"What am I supposed to tell the pod?" Nixie asked, choked up again with emotion.

"I don't care. Tell them the truth."

"So… goodbye?"

"Goodbye." Lyla recited as if she was reading from a script. "Take care of yourself, Nixie." she added with more emotion.

"Back at 'ya." Nixie said as she forced a smile through the drops that were now unmistakably tears.

Lyla and Nixie hugged, holding on as though they would never see each other again.

For all they knew, they wouldn't.