Bright and teal and shimmering, it moves with practically a mind of its own. It drifts toward Ross and brushes against them. Against their own tail, orange and glowing. When our scales touch, the most amazing feeling pulses through my body. It’s like . . . jellyfish.

     Crest     

As soon as my lips touch Sean’s, I feel the change. More searing heat, followed by an immense sense of relief. Like a thousand pounds have been taken off my shoulders. I know even without opening my eyes that my fin is here.

But how? I jumped into the ocean minutes before the sun set. I shouldn’t be back in my body.

If I was the same mer as before the start of my Journey, I would have told humanity to shove it and swum off to Pacifica. But that me doesn’t exist anymore. Nothing matters knowing that Sean is gone forever.

I don’t know what to do. I want to get Sean’s body safely to shore, but doing that means everything is truly over.

I finally open my eyes, willing myself to take in Sean one last time.

And he’s staring right back.

Not just staring. Smiling. I don’t know what to do or say or think or feel. Maybe I actually am stuck as a human and Sean really is dead and my head and my heart can’t take it so they’ve sent me into some sort of alternate-reality hallucination.

But then a fin brushes against my own. Sean’s fin. Thick and teal and gorgeous, and when his scales brush against mine, I’ve never felt more whole in my life. And I know it’s real.

“I’ve never seen you look more like a fish,” Sean says, his words perfectly audible, using that mer ability to manipulate sound however he wants. Holy flicking shit. “Close your mouth, you blowhole.”

I laugh, bubbles bursting past my lips, then wrap my tail tight around Sean’s and pull him in for a kiss.

This is how life is supposed to be. This is the Journey ending I never knew could happen, but I’m so flicking thankful this is the current the Blue put me on.

Go with the flow.

We float there forever, kissing, running our tails against each other, love and relief and happy confusion creating the best flotsam and jetsam in my gut. Finally, Sean pulls away, a ghost of a smile lingering on his face.

“What happens now?” he asks. “I’m sure people up there are going to send help. Do we swim away before they find us?” Then his eyes go wide. “What about my parents? Kavya? They’re going to think I’m dead.”

“They will,” a deep voice rumbles, making us both jump. “That is, if you choose this.”

I look past Sean to see Elder Kelp, their red tail keeping them afloat, looking like they just casually strolled by.