(Eric's P.O.V.)

I awoke to the church bells ringing out at dawn, yawning softly as I rubbed my eyes clean of sleep dust, muttering, "Another day. Better check the inventory for next week.". I grabbed a scuffed shirt from the end of the bed, putting it on as I sleep bare-chested during summer nights, not wanting to be overheated. I tugged my trousers lightly downward to my feet, and grabbed my boots.

Using a bowl of warm water which was drawn from the well yesterday, I rinsed my face, made my hair clean without being soaked to the bone, and then headed out to the kitchen where I heard my uncle muttering to himself as he was clearly cooking oatmeal.

"Morning, Uncle Grimsby.". I call out to grab his attention, and he looks over, smiling softly, "Ah, Eric, good morning to you as well. Care for some oatmeal?". I nod, smiling, "Sounds good. You know what I like in it.". My uncle chuckled, "A spoon of honey, correct?".

I grinned widely, "Sharp as ever, uncle. How are we doing on food this week?". Grimsby hummed softly as he pulled out a jar of fresh honey from one of the cupboards. He mused softly, "We're running out of seafood. Then there is the concern of bread as well. I found mold in one of the loaves this morning!".

I blinked in surprise, then hummed in thought as he bought my bowl of oatmeal with a splash of honey in it already, with a drink of fresh milk, "Well, I was planning to go out anyway, so how about clams and mussels for the seafood concern, and you will trade perhaps some beef for a nice big loaf of Rugbrod (rye bread), yes?".

Grimsby smiled at me as he is sitting across from me, having his own share of oatmeal with a drink of freshwater. "Sounds like a good plan to me, my boy. You visiting your friend again?". I shook my head, "Nah, Max told me yesterday that he got a big thing to do with his father today. Maybe later before supper, I'd stop by, but I have to see how I feel after catching clams and mussels as you know that it can be difficult out there on the seas.".

Grimsby nodded, "Indeed. Well, you better get going. Days in Denmark can be unpredictable. Best to grab sunlight and such before storms come and all.". I grinned, polishing off my bowl and drink before heading back to my room to grab my crafted nets and baskets, and something grabbed my attention. I looked over to see my father's book open-paged, and on its pages, is crudely-drawn mermaids around notes of information.

I muttered out loud, "Perhaps I could see one today, Dad.". I nearly reached for the book, but stopped, realizing that I cannot afford to have my book ruined by seawater. But something could survive seawater. I reached over to grab my copper coin necklace. It took my mom a whole year by seaming dresses and such, but she bought it to surprise me on my eighth birthday.

When Dad and Mom died from influenza a few months later, it broke my heart and Uncle Grimsby's heart as well. He and I eventually healed, and having Max as my best friend helped as well. I then grab a raincoat in case if it rains today. From the views right now, it's crystal clear with the sun shining, but like Uncle said, the day can change in a instant.

I waved goodbye to Uncle, heading out through the streets in town as we live on the edge of town, and I greeted some people on the way, whistling a tune as I made it to the docks, and pull out my beloved boat which I painted a glossy black with blue stripes, and named her 'Shadow One'.

A few hours passed as I worked hard to catch clams and mussels, and it was peaceful, hearing the sounds of the sea around me. Suddenly, I was taken off guard when a storm sneaked up behind me, startling me with the thunder. I feared for my life as I pushed through the rough waves of the sea, grunting as my muscles pulled and ached.

Then I thought I saw blood nearby. I knew there were ships and boats in the vicinity, and someone must have gone overboard. I rowed as hard as I could so I can reach the person in distress, and I was surprised to find that it wasn't blood, but actually hair as red as blood, floating around this unconscious woman. I was half out to grab the woman around the waist, dragging her out of the violent waves when I froze up in disbelief.

She wasn't wearing a dress, barely any garment aside from the bra she had on, and she had a real fish-like tail, and I gasped out loud in shock, realizing that I was saving a mermaid. And I was a human, a man, what if she hit me or something once she comes to consciousness?

Lightning strikes in my view, dangerously close, and I knew I had to save her no matter what. I cannot have a death on my conscience, mermaid or not. I brought her into my boat, and I then rowed furiously, but the waves, the storm was literally becoming bigger by the second.

Then I saw rocks in the way, and I grabbed the mermaid in my arms, jumped out into the water, barely hearing the cracks, and I surfaced, realizing that the mermaid slipped from my arms, and I looked around frantically, seeing flashes of red, and I swam, reaching to grab her by the waist as I did the half-stroke, looking for any sight of land.

Then lightning flashed in the distance, revealing a beach with a low cliff, and I panted heavily, "Don't worry, I got you. You're gonna be okay.". I swam for the beach, barely noticing that the storm was leaving the premises, with my mind taking on the fact that I was actually touching a mermaid for lord's sake, and I spoke softly, hoping not to scare her in case if she wakes up during the swim.

It seemed like hours later when we finally reached the beach, touching the sand once the tide bought us in, and the last thing I knew was falling asleep to the sight of the sky becoming a dark blue. I woke up to the sound of whimpering, and I saw her twitching in her sleep, and I was instantly relieved that she was alive!

The sky was dark, seeming to come into late afternoon, maybe early evening as the sun was setting. I was able to take in the sight of her, and her beauty took my breath away. Her skin is pale as the moon, flawless, and her hair is now taking upon the bold color of a rose as it's dry, and she's wearing a purple bra, and her tail is a glorious green, like a seaweed green when it's in sunlight under the sea, with her fins even a lighter sheen, like sea-foam.

Then I saw her moaning as if she's waking up, and I was instantly shy, afraid to talk to her, and I sprinted over to a large rock, peeking slightly to see her waking up a few moments later. She rubbed her head, speaking in a mix of languages. I recognized my language in her dialogue. She could speak Danish! She then gasped as she took in her surroundings, saying something about her mom, yet I didn't care as I was awed by the beauty of her eyes.

Her eyes, they're the color of the sea, the peaceful blue when the sea is calm and well. Altogether, I knew she is the woman of my dreams, and how could I hesitate to talk to her, get to know her? I really want to know what makes her tick, and before I could even move a toe, she left in a flash, a half-confused, half-panicked look on her face.

I stood up, moving around the rock, seeing her fins in the distance before she disappeared, and I then realized something. I didn't even know her name! I moaned to myself, muttering, "Idiot. What was I thinking?".

Then I sighed heavily, looking up and down the beach, and I knew Uncle was to give me a lecture or worse once I get home. I rubbed my neck, then I gasped, looking down in shock as my necklace, my copper coin necklace was not on me! Where could it have gone?