One day I asked my mother if she beleived in mermaids. She said that they can be real if you beleive hard enough. Later that same day I asked my father if I could ever meet and see one. He said that I can see them if I look hard enough. Before bed, when my mother was tucking me in I asked her if we could go to a nearby beach. She replied: "If you get a good nights sleep then we can venture across the beach and search for mermaids".

I dreamt of what a mermaid looked like: Long hair, beautiful eyes, orange scaley tail and a voice of an angel. The next morning I awoke to the warm touch of the sun and dressed in my best outfit: If I was to meet a mermaid I'd have to look my best.

As I rushed downstairs my mother handed me my camera and off we set to the beach. As we arrived my parents set up the picnic and said to me "venture out on the beach darling, but not too far!" So I set off on my mermaid hunt and came across a large rock. I sat round the back and felt a wet hand grasp mine. I suddenly turned and to my suprise there was a mermaid. Just as pictured her: Beautiful eyes, long brown hair with blonde highlights and a lovely orange tail with the odd blue scale. She spoke in a hushed tone and began to speak:"I am Crystal, the mermaid of the deep, and you are?"
"I am Megan, a girl far from here, may I ask: how did you get you fin? Was it magic? Or was it just like that when you were born?" I questioned.
"I was magically transformed from girl to mermaid by a powerful merman called Christopher. We are to be wed soon, but I am afraid of losing my family. I wish to see them again. Before I am married" She cried. I watched her and studied her fin. I raised my camera and took a photo. As the camera flashed she screached and dissapeared. I heard a splash and she swam as fast as she could away from me and my camera.

That night as I was falling asleep a voice in my head began to sing: "Megan, Megan do not disobey, these magical creatures shall not be slaves, delete that picture lock it away, get rid of the evidence, do not disobey"
I awoke, startled and grasped my camera. As I flicked through th pictures I found the one of Crystal, her fin was slowly dissapearing as I deleted it. I know now that magical creatures do exist, but are not ready to be revealed. I'll always remember the wise words of my parents: 'If you believe hard enough that thing can become real. And if you search hard enough that thing can be seen'.

I apologise to Crystal for disturbing her. I wish to meet you again.