Mother gives me a knowing smile and takes a few steps back as Samir skids to a stop and rests his hands on his knees, gasping for breath.
“I got lost, or I would’ve been here sooner.”
“How did you find me?”
“The Corn Dog Cart. Your cousin said you’d be here.”
I glare at Ryan, but he’s standing back with his mom and dad, pointedly not watching us.
“I’m sorry. About yesterday.”
“You don’t have to be.”
“I do, though.” He kneels on the wooden planks. “Yesterday was perfect. Until Carter ruined it.”
I want to cry. Because yesterday was the happiest I think I’ve ever been. We were together.
“I’m not in love with him anymore. I should’ve said it sooner. I should’ve said it so you could hear.”
My heart skips a beat.
“Me and Carter, we said the words but it didn’t mean anything. All we ever did was hurt each other. But being with you, I feel like I know what love is supposed to mean.”
“Samir...”
“It’s the way you lose your voice when I smile at you,”he says. “The way you close your eyes and hum to yourself when you’re happy. It’s the way you look at me when you think I can’t see.”
“But—”
“And I want this, Dylan. I want you to bind me.”
“I can’t.” It feels like driving a spear into my side. But he doesn’t know what it’ll be like.
“Why?” He’s crying. The sunset turns his tear tracks golden. “I love you, Dylan.”
He loves me.
If only he could see the way he holds my heart in his hands.
“You said you loved me too.”
“I do. I love you so much, I can’t stand the thought of you hurting. When I’m gone on migration, you’re going to ache deep inside, in a place that no one else can reach. Every day for the rest of our lives, if we’re not together, it’s going to hurt.”
“I’ll risk it,” he says.
“I can’t.”
Mother steps behind Samir. “Little Song,” she says, and looks from Samir to me. “Even though it hurts, it’s a pain worth bearing. Because I know your father is going to come home to me.”
Father swims up behind me and rests his hand on my shoulder. “And I know your mother will be waiting.”
“Dylan. Please.”
Please.
I swim closer and pull myself up onto the pier. My abdomen and tail quiver as I balance on my hands. (How do merfolk in movies make this look so graceful?)
Dylan brings his face closer to mine, holds the sides of my tail to steady me.