chapter 2

*15 years later Meri is 21 and owns the shop as her father passed away. She works with miners and orphans.

This year the Mermaids haven't come back to the sea. It's been five years since she last saw a mermaid*. Meri opening her books on mermaids and folktales. Reading and studying them to see where they went before a sudden knock on the door almost made her fall out her chair. "Coming! Give me a minute!" Yelling as she hides her books in her leather brown bag and darts for the door. "Yes? Hello?" It's a small kid from the orphanage* holding out a envelope. "For me? Thanks. Come in Coco" Meri gesters with her hand for him to take a seat which he does watching Meri grab and knife and open the envelope pulling out the paper from inside. "So it says...take care of Coco. No couple wants a mute child and you seem to take a liking to him. Keep him or he dies... Signed... Sister Georgia" Meri looks over and Coco then back at the envelope and has a moment of silence.....???"I'm not ready for a kid! I just turned twenty-one! I'm barely able to handle the shop by myself and study now a kid?" She sighs in frustration and looks back at Coco. "Come on let's go to bed." She reaches out her hand and he takes it following her into the bedroom. "Lay down I'll go get your stuff tomorrow morning. I have to continue on my studies for medical school..." Coco grabs her arm and give Meri puppy dog eyes. "Ahh alright fine! I'll stay." She reluctantly get the the bed with him covering them both up with the soft lavender blanket. "Wanna hear a bed time story?" Coco shakes his head no and hugs Meri as she hugs him back. "Okay good night"

Rather short chapter today but :3