The mermaid sat beside her.
“No,” she replied gently. “This is our kingdom.”
Latty swallowed hard.
“Why did you save me?” she asked. “You don’t even know me.”
The mermaid was silent for a moment. Then she said quietly:
“I saw what your father did, and I could not allow it.”
Latty’s body shook.
“My father hates me,” she whispered. “He always has.”
She lowered her head.
“He said I bring bad luck.”
The mermaid felt anger rise inside her, but she kept her voice calm.
“Some humans fear what they do not understand,” she said. “But that does not mean you deserve harm.”
Latty sighed deeply.
“My mother will be crying now,” she said sadly. “She will be looking for me.”
The mermaid did not answer. She swam to a small corner of the room and brought something wrapped in leaves.
“Rest,” she said gently. “You are safe for now.”
Latty nodded slowly, but her heart refused to calm down. She could feel that her life had entered something dangerous and powerful.
Back in the village, night slowly began to fall. Latty’s mother was still outside, walking weakly, calling her daughter’s name until her voice almost disappeared. People began to return to their homes. Some shook their heads, saying it was too late.
Latty’s father sat quietly, thinking deeply. Something did not feel right anymore.
Eba stood far away, staring at the river, his heart heavy. He felt as though something had been taken from him before it even began.
Under the water, in the quiet mermaid kingdom, Latty lay still inside the hut, listening to the strange world around her.
Then, inside the mermaid’s home, the mermaid sat beside Latty again. The soft glow from the stones on the wall lit the place gently. The water around them felt calm, but the mermaid’s eyes were serious.
She turned to Latty and spoke slowly.
“Tell me,” she said, “what would you like me to do for you?”
Latty was quiet for a long moment. Her fingers moved slowly over her cloth as if searching for the right words.
Then she spoke, her voice small but full of hope.
“If you can help me,” she said, “I want to see.”
The words came out with pain and desire mixed together.
