A whimper escaped her lips, a soft but poignant sound that echoed the pain hidden beneath her fragile exterior. The merman's heartache was evident as he witnessed his daughter's struggle. He spoke words of solace, a father's promise that everything would be okay, but the undertones of worry lingered in the air.
The girl, in her weakened state, managed a feeble attempt to turn towards her father. The effort seemed to intensify her pain, and a series of small, pained whimpers escaped her as she sought to lock eyes with the merman who stood by her side. Her struggle to connect, though hindered by illness, carried a desperate plea for reassurance.
