Ocean

I am cleaning the bench with a towel I keep inside my bag, and I can hear steps of people passing by, some are getting closer to where I am, and I just wish for a day without an anxiety attack, and when I hear a strong voice say Hello.… I can tell Marco is finally here. 

I met Marco Wells 3 years ago in Greece on a boat trip to the river Aspropotamos «previously known as Aqueloo». How to say no to know more about the mythology behind this place, to see everyone sitting around the table, that looked incredible with all the different dishes, holding a glass with ouzo and on that moment I felt an immediate connection with him, he was the first one to talk, and he said —ta ekanes salata¹— and we all laughed. And after these years, after that promise, he will be here.

From all the places I have been, this is by far my favorite. Every day I am here, on this bench, and today with Marco, and we won’t move in the hope no one sits in our spot. In front of us, we have the best view here in Georgia inside the largest aquarium in the United States, and the memories from that day in Greece appear as the angelfish, bat stars, belugas pass behind that glass. Something hit the floor and there was silence. I moved my left hand and it was not where I left it and what felt like Marco’s hand took mine and he gave me my walking stick. And just when Marco was about to say something, I felt someone breathing behind me.

— When? He whispered to my right ear as he moved my red hair behind my ear.

— One week after our trip to Aspropotamos, I answered while I did a sign pointing to my back expecting he will see it, that he will see who was there and tell me.

 I closed my eyes, and the soothing sound of the water coming behind the walls got interrupted with voices, Marco was speaking to a woman in Greek and, as I stopped practicing it, I couldn’t understand anything. 

After ten minutes, or so, Marco started describing the day we met, the river, the story of Aqueloo, and the joke. I could feel the ouzo going down my throat again, I was in Greece again, in his words, and never imagined what he said next.

Two months ago the University of the Aegan in Mitilini, about 15 hours away from  Aspropotamos, made an important discovery related to the myth from Aqueloo, son of Ocean and Tetis and father of the mermaids, and before going public Marco convinced the University to come to Georgia.

Mermaids have existed for years starting with the story of Thessalonike, but also in books, drawings, and of course in our imagination. Until know.

Is known that Thessalonike was just 21 when she lost her brother Alexander the Great, and when it was her time to die, she became a mermaid of the Aegean Sea. But what nobody knew, and what was a secret, is that one day she heard a baby crying, and the sound came from a sinking ship. She got there as soon she could, hold that baby in her hands, and as the ship was empty she needed to swim until she was on the sea level and checked the baby. It was a girl. 

Thessalonike started searching for a boat, for someone out there, yelling, someone looking for a baby, but had no luck. So, she started swimming, and she did for hours until she got to a small village where just a man was in the streets and made sure that he took the kid.

She followed them, with her eyes, until they got lost. Then looked at the moon and in less than a second, she was swimming her way back home. 

The woman that was previously speaking with Marco was right in front of me. Marco hold my hand and asked me to stand up and touch the face of this woman, so I did.  I started with the shape, oval and her skin was so soft. Her eyes and nose seem so delicate, and the lips felt like drawing a heart. Marco told me that she had blond hair, blue eyes, and light pink lips. And she once more started talking with Marco, but this time he was translating every word to me. 

The University found records about a shipwreck close to the Aegean Sea, between them they found the name Malia, which belonged to a baby reported as dead, and they started the research. 

They traveled to different towns, made interviews, spent time in libraries, creating the tree of life of that baby and after 15 years they stopped the research. 

But three years ago, they received information that changed everything, Malia came back to Greece.

I am Naiad. Descendant of Malia, and proof that mermaids exist. Without the help of Thessalonike, I wouldn’t be here surrounded by water.

1. Ta ekanes salata means I’ve messed up.