Mermaids

I watched him as he vaulted over the bar. His limbs were lined up like dominoes. He was perfect. Later, when I actually got up the courage to talk to him, I told him this.  He laughed, his laugh was like raindrops. He lifted up his sleeves and showed me his bruises. So many bruises, he said they were from all the times he didn't make it. I kissed each one gently, like a flower petal. His tears mixed with my hair, and he told me I was beautiful. He said I looked like the ocean. My hair the waves, my eyes the sapphires in sunken treasure chests. I told him I was a mermaid. Stuck forever in the water, stuck forever in the fairy tales, the myths.  I could never be real because I didn't believe that I was real.  I was simply a story people told to pass the time.  A dream to fill young children's heads.