Another contraction seized me, more insistent than the last. I breathed through it, focusing on the waves washing the shore outside my bower. I had chosen to birth my babe on land—a first for any mermaid princess. But I refused to hide in the dark ocean depths for this momentous occasion. My daughter deserved to enter the world bathed in sunlight, just as her father had.
The pain crested, and I sagged back against the cushions, sweat beading my brow. How much longer? I yearned to hold my child, to look into the eyes that would reflect some piece of the human man I loved.
When the next contraction came, I clenched my teeth and bore down with all my strength. An animal cry tore from my throat. Again, I pushed with the pain and felt something shift within me.
"Once more," I gasped through the agony. Summoning my last ounce of energy, I gave a mighty push. Relief flooded through me as the pressure released in a great rush. I heard a thin, indignant wail. My babe—she was here!
I reached with trembling arms as my handmaid placed the slippery, squalling infant on my chest. A daughter. My daughter. Her cries softened as I cradled her close, still connected by the pulsing cord. Eyes the crystalline blue of her own blinked up at me, wide and wondering. Like her father's, a shock of dark hair crowned her petite head. She was perfect.
Tears of joy streamed down my face. After so much heartache and sacrifice, this single exquisite moment made everything worthwhile. I had carried a piece of my beloved within me, and now I held her, impossibly tiny and fragile yet pulsing with life and promise.
"Luanna Kalea," I whispered. "A name meaning 'joyous light.' May you shine brightly, my pearl."
At that moment, all the pain and worry melted away. She was perfect, she was mine. The sea seemed to quiet as I beheld the miracle I cradled in my arms. Whatever trials lay ahead, I knew I would face them to protect this precious gift from the depths. We had this moment, for now, just the two of us, mermaid and child. My world was whole.
I held my newborn daughter close, overwhelmed by the rush of love and protectiveness. Luanna's tiny body felt so fragile, cradled against my chest. Those big glacier-blue eyes gazed up at her with innocent trust, and my heart ached.
When my daughter, who is half-human and half-mermaid, was born, I hoped she would be fully human. But as I look at her human legs, I realize it is impossible for her to survive in Lalo'Kai. The Merfolk community would not accept her as one of their own, and she would face ridicule and discrimination. Therefore, she should be raised in the human world, where she will be accepted and loved for who she is.
"I'm so sorry, my darling," I whispered. "I wish I could keep you here with me. But I cannot let them hurt you to get to me. You deserve so much more."
I kissed Luanna's forehead, memorizing every detail of her face. Then, with a heavy heart, I swam from the palace under the cover of night. I emerged onto a moonlit shore, blinking back tears as I placed Luanna on the doorstep of Kaimana's parent's home.
"Grow up safe and happy, my little pearl," I said softly. "Know that I will always be watching over you."
It was the hardest thing I had ever done, turning away from those innocent eyes one last time. But I found strength in knowing I had secured my daughter's future. Luanna would live and thrive far from the dangers of the underwater world. That would have to be enough.
The End
Thank you for reading, "The Tail Of A Conflicted Mermaid."
I genuinely hope you enjoyed it!
Stay tuned for Book 2!