Sean looks at me expectantly, but I can only shrug. I have no idea what’s going on.

“What in the Blue are you talking about?” I ask.

“The Blue Moon, Crest.” My heart jumps hearing them say my real name. It’s so good to be home. So good to be here in the Blue, with Sean next to me. With Sean being able to stay.

“You know the story. Of our ancestors. Remind us.” They float there silently. Typical Elder, always keeping things close to their fin to impart some kind of lesson.

“The first mer were humans, transformed when they were drowning and truly crying for help.” I look at Sean, his fin gently swishing back and forth, the movement seeming second nature to him already.

“You’re saying the magic of the Blue Moon transformed Sean? He was drowning. But no one cried for help.”

“You must know by now that so much can be said without words.” That smug, satisfied know-it-all expression drifts over their face. “A wave of a hand, the brush of a fin. A kiss.”

My fin flushes at the thought of Elder Kelp watching while I gave Sean the last kiss I ever thought I’d get to have with him. A kiss wishing that he could come back to me. And here he is.

“Blue below,” I breathe. My heart feels like it could jump out of my throat. “So this means—”

“We don’t have to be separated forever,” Sean finishes for me.

Elder Kelp shakes their head slowly. “Not necessarily.”

My heart sinks.

“You have to choose this life,” Elder Kelp explains. “The Blue didn’t demand the first merfolk come here. What kind of savior would it be if it forced humans down to the ocean against their will?”

“So what? Become mer or you drown?” I snap. “Some choice.”

The Elder’s smug look only gets smugger. “Become mer, or be washed back ashore, good as new. The magic of the Blue Moon is about giving life, not taking it away, Crest.” They turn to Sean. “So, what will it be?”

     Sean     

“Crest.” It’s amazing to actually say their real name. To make the sound of a wave curling in on itself, water meeting water meeting water, over and over again. They look at me, a question in their eyes, waiting for my decision.

This is it. The movie-worthy happy ending I’ve been waiting for all along. The plot went perfectly, almost like we really did have a script. My heart was broken, I tried to win my ex back, fell in love with my fake partner, and now we legitimately, truly can be together.