text: It’s been a while. Her eyes murky green as we shared a glance through the glistening surface. Everything appeared in a strange hue below water. Not her. Almost like she had a glow about her face. I could see her perfectly from above as she cowered back with that sad look again. Whenever life got too much to bear, I’ve come here to her bay. I’ve come to her, and my troubles all flushed away. My mind dived into her floating coral hair. My worries drifted away like the bubbles locked in her locks here and there. And just like that I couldn’t feel pain anymore. She listened, she cared, and she understood. Always talking to her, she knew the smallest pebbles and entangled mess hiding in my depths. Those so deep that not even the golden light breaking off her skin could reach them. I knew she’s not the key and that there’s no such thing, but next to her I felt lighter, warmer. Her salmon pink smile thawed the sharp fractals in my heart even if just for a while. Soon, I became addicted to her presence. As I’m sure did she. We talked for hours on end some days. Others we just exchanged a few words, but they made a world’s difference. And wherever we could find each other - in her bay or in the wide blue world, it didn’t matter. When I was sailing on sea, she somehow knew where to find me. The swinging waves made my stomach tingle with anticipation of where would she pop up next during my trips. A silly little game of ours. We knew this was love, but no one said it. Our desires were simply never meant to be fulfilled. I from land, she from water, it would never work. One of us would always hurt too much. How could you hurt someone so close to you? However dear we were to each other, sorrow permeated into our visits. Its bitterness left a clinging taste dissolving into the back of our minds. And one day I realized, after I left her on a summer evening, I was even sadder than before I came. The sadness of leaving overshadowed the sadness of being apart. It took me like a flood. Suddenly, I was drowning, asking all these questions. Should I go see her? Is she hurting the same way? Can I help to make it go away? No. And she was helpless, too. I had to stop myself from cursing her fish tail. The tail that changed colour from green to purple with the slightest movement. The tail I fell in love with. I could curse my human legs with the same thought. But targeting her nature was easier than facing the truth. We were from different sides of the membrane, and even though it was easy to break through for a short minute, it bound us to our own realms. You have to live your life, my love. As I have to live mine. That’s what I came to say today, no need to hide behind that reef. Let’s not hold on to the pain, its sweetness is poisoning our souls. I used to think we would find a way. That one of us would give in and make the sacrifice, but that’s not fair in any way you look at it. It’s ok. We still have each other in our own bay, deep in our hearts. That place is going to be only ours. Ours forever. Farewell, my love.