She was a dreamer. Naive and gullible. Arriving in this country with her hopes and her dreams. A beautiful despair. I admired her for her courage but felt sorry for the vulnerability that kept her warm at night. I took two deep inhales from my cigarette firmly tucked between my fingers, noticing the chipped red paint. I licked my lips and tucked my platinum blonde wig behind my ear. This wig has seen better days I thought. Mon Dieu! With my legs crossed, I watched as she returned from the loo, little bohemian black american, plopping onto her seat in front of me. "What a beautiful restaurant! I can't believe it." She revealed, smiling. "Yes," exhaling the smoke. " You have to live your life with the best of everything. Take what you want. Deserving nothing but the best." Our waiter returned, a curious looking frenchman. I could feel his judgment piercing my skin. He poured two cups of the best Merlot into our glasses with a look of stench curled in his lips. I smirked, taking another deep inhale of my Gauloise. "Merci, beau cou!" Alice thanked the vile waiter. Exactly what I mean. Can't she see this man only sees us as a black infestation on his country that he doesn't even want us to eat at this french establishment that doesn't even belong to him. So I mimic her. "Merci beau coup!" I want to show this man he is nothing. "Cleo! " "What?! We owe nothing to this man. If you want to survive in this place, You must trust no one." The Pathetic man scurries away after I crush his weak spirit. He is completely offended. She looks at me with her sad eyes. I think I may have hurt her feelings. Which is not my intention. Her big brown eyes refuse to meet mine and her hands fiddle with the cutlery set on the edge of the table. I put my cigarette out and grab her hand. I can sense her uncomfortability and nervousness. I am sure she thinks I am beautiful, but has never felt this way for a woman before. I cannot lie, I have never been so pulled to an innocent and american girl before. In Jamaica, I would be condemned for the life I live. But, I am here. In Paris. Making my way, my way. "What is it?" Alice Bashfully looks up at me and questions, "What do you mean?" Taking a sip of the bitter red wine, I swirl the liquid in my cup and shrug, "There is an energy emerging. And well, it's got me captivated." Slowly intertwining my fingers into hers. She is hesitant. She cuts her eyes away and gazes into the distance. She thinks perhaps she wants to run away. That I am crazy, as I have been told many many times before. Her hand is slowly jerking to be free but she fights the temptation. "Cleo, I've never met anyone like you." "Perfect!" A smile dances across my face and pretty soon we are tangoing together. I want to show this girl the world. This time, I squeeze her hand and pull her face a little closer to mine. Her breathing becomes rapid and I feel the coils on the nape of my neck rise with excitement. I whisper, “When that idiot of a waiter goes to the back with the dirty dishes, we will run to our freedom!” Alice looks as if she has seen a ghost and I cannot help but laugh. I tell her that in 5 seconds, I will walk out of this establishment. If she wants to stay, she is more than welcome to. But if she wants to explore the Paris that is lavish, full of delicious meals, and expensive champagnes, then she will be right behind me as we ditch this restaurant as the queens we are. “Trust me.”

My mother, Tallulah, comes to me on my 21st birthday and says, today is the day you get to meet your grandparents. She's wearing a loose sky blue dress and her hair strands blow freely across her face. She is happy, a subtle glow around her cheeks, as if I was staring at her aura. My eyes widened and air escaped my lips. I never met my grandparents, in the flesh, only through letters and sporadic phone calls. I always thought something terrible happened between my mother and her parents because we live so far from them. Why now, I thought. Especially when I have made plans with Shelly and Marina. Shelly and Marina are coming too, she says. My mother is like that, it's like she can always read my mind. I remain speechless. Looking down at my fingers, which tingle, I utter the words, ok. Before I know it, I see my big sisters' beige volvo pull up in front of our little pale blue house. They promptly run out of their car and serenade me with birthday songs and glee. Smothering me with kisses and hugs. I smile and thank them for their kindness. I have always been shy. We all pile into the volvo, my mother in the front and Marina and I in the back. I stare out the window as our house gets smaller and smaller. We drive all day, laughing, and singing. Mother is so thrilled to see her family and that her parents get to meet her girls. I notice Marina and Shelly smile coyly at each other. What does that mean? I think. I'm antsy and ready to get out of the car, unnerved that I have spent the majority of my birthday in this old volvo. Not before too long, Willa, my mother says. We are close. Again, she knows what I am thinking before I even say it. We enter a town and pass a sign that says WELCOME TO INDIGO BAY. It looks like a little beach town. Pale sand scattered for miles and miles. The sky matches my mothers dress and it is very breezy. There is no one in sight, no houses, just sand, a very old lighthouse and an ancient white picket fence that is barely standing up. We walk to the part of the beach where the water rushes to your toes and I am confused. It's okay Willa, you will understand soon. I stare at my mother and think, How do you always know what I am thinking? She smiles. Because, dear, I have special powers. We all have special powers. My stomach knots and I feel faint. What is HAPPENING. My mother takes my hand to the right and Marina takes my left. Shelly takes my mother's left hand and they all close their eyes. Close your eyes Willa. And trust your family. But I can't swim, I say. Oh, yes you can, my dear. We walked together into the shallow parts of the water until it gets deeper and deeper and I can no longer feel the sand on my toes. Or my toes. We are completely under water still holding hands and I hold my breath until I can't anymore and accidentally breathe in the water. But I am fine. No water enters lungs. I look at my toes and see a green fish tail instead. I am swimming. I am alive. I am..A mermaid? Yes dear. My mother says as she swims in front of me, caressing my face. We are descendants of Indigo Bay of the Royal Ocean Blue family. Your grandfather is a Triton and your grandmother is his queen. The 21st birthday is a very special day for every mermaid, for you can finally see where you come from. My sisters swim to my side, proud to finally share this moment with me. I know this because I can hear their thoughts. I really hope you love Indigo Bay, Marina says. If you like it, you have the choice of staying permanently. Shelly points to an oceanic glowing town towards the bottom of the sea. I realize my family have been waiting for me to become of age to return back to our aquatic roots. But is this for me?