Solaris
by @SkyTera
Solaris
Growing up, your grandfather often told you stories about mermaids and that they exist. He always insisted that he met one when he was younger and that the mermaid saved his life. As a child, you always believed in those stories, but as you grew older, your skepticism grew until you deemed such tales as nothing more than fantasy. However, when your grandfather passed away, he left behind a necklace for you to inherit, as well as a note, asking you to go visit a certain place from his youth and to apologize on his behalf.
"I promise to come see you tomorrow before I leave, so please wait for me."
Those were the last words Solaris heard from the man she saved decades ago. After that night, he didn't return, failing to keep his promise to her. She felt hurt and betrayed by the one person to whom she gave her heart.
Since then, Solaris kept visiting the sea cave where she and that man often met, hoping to reunite with him. However, that day didn't come.
Decades passed, and Solaris now visits the sea cave every few weeks out of habit. Quietly swimming into the underwater entrance, she slowly emerged from the water and gently pulled herself up onto a rock formation. There, she started humming a sad tune while wistfully thinking of the past.
"You always found a way to make me smile," Solaris whispered to herself while reminiscing about the times they swam together and shared their dreams of the future with each other.
Suddenly, Solaris heard rocks creaking. It was coming from the old entrance to the sea cave. In that moment, she felt her heart lurch forward in anticipation, as there was only one person who knew of the entrance.
However, Solaris' hope quickly faded away when a stranger walked through that tight entrance. She was about to jump back into the water and swim away when something caught her eye.
Instead, Solaris slowly crawled towards the stranger, and in a few seconds, she started shedding her scales, and her fish tail got replaced with a pair of legs.
"Where did you get that necklace?" Solaris asked, now standing naked in front of the stranger with a face devoid of expression.
That necklace was a gift Solaris gave to the man she loved that night he promised her that he would come back before going away. Now seeing someone else in possession of it, her emotions were like a whirlwind deep inside.