Page 51 of Breathless

They swam through the ocean together, mostly in silence. Along the way, they bumped intoMoona.

“Hi guys.” Moona waved at them with her fin. “How’s itgoing?”

Isa was ecstatic now she could understand her. “Oh, Moona.” Isa hugged her. “You saved my life.Thankyou.”

“It wasn’t anything,” Moona shrugged, and she smacked Adrian. “I’d do anything for thisloser.”

“Hey,” Adrian said, and he narrowedhiseyes.

Moona laughed. She waddled away through the waves, giving them the alone time theydesired.

But before she left, Moona glanced behind her. “Isa. I hopeyoustay.”

Adrian and Isa glanced at each other. They swam to the coral reef that they’d loved so much together and reached thesurface.

She could barely see the outline of Adrian’s face in the moonless night. “So…” he started. “What do you wanttodo?”

Isa sighed, and shrugged. “I don’t know. I know I should stay. My dadneedsme.”

“What does your heart want youtodo?”

Isa’s fingers clenched Adrian’s hands. She swam there for a few moments, thinking, before she replied, “I was born to be a mermaid. I know I was. This one day has been more amazing than myentirelife.”

She stared down at the coral reef below. “I realize what I’m expected to do. But it’s not what Iwantto do. And I’m pretty tired of doing things for everyone else, but never for myself. This is my life. I need to live it in the truest way possible. I need to be me. And being a mermaid isbeingme.”

“Does that mean you’ll say yes?” Adrian’s tonebrightened.

“Yes.” Isa laughed. “But I’ll have to come back on land and make up some story for my dad. Tell him I’m transferring out of state orsomething.”

“All right!” Adrian hugged her, then kissed her in ecstasy. “You’re going to be my queen. All mine. You don’t understand how incredibly crazythisis.”

“What do you mean?” Isa tiltedherhead.

“All my life, I thought I’d never find the right girl. I figured finding someone would mean I’d be tied down forever, but you set me free instead. Turns out you’re the biggest adventure of all, Isa. And I can’t wait to explore you, every day for the rest ofmylife.”

“Aw, Adrian. That’ssocute.”

“Yeah, well.” He grinned. “I’m a pretty good sweettalker.”

Isa made a sarcastic noise, which turned into a tiny shriek of happiness. “I can hardly believe this. Mermaids are real, and I’m one of them! How incredible.” Isa sighed. “What else is out there? Peter Pan? The BigBadWolf?”

“I guess we’ll never know.” Adrian laughed. “Though someonemight.”

Isa smiled. She was counting onfindingout.

“Come on, Adrian.” Isa let go of his hand and wiggled the sapphire tail that she already loved so much. “Race you back toAquatica.”

THEEND