WATER NYMPH

you push your face closer to the cascading water for relief from the heat of the day, droplets collecting on your eyelashes and eyebrows. The sound of a splash behind you breaks your tranquility. You turn around to the slow-moving river behind you, ripples gliding across the surface. Just a fish. You shrug it off and turn back to face the waterfall once more. A spry giggle causes you to turn on your heel, almost losing your footing on the slick rocks. A beautiful maiden is perched on a boulder with crossed forearms, her chin tucked into her shoulder, as her large eyes gaze up at you. Her pearly skin gleams in the sunlight, but from the waist down, she is still submerged in the water. Water drips from the wavy hair framing her face; it clings to her shoulders, her back, and her eyes glimmer with mischief. You take a hand to rub tired eyes, certain you are hallucinating. Removing your hand and blinking repeatedly, your eyes focus to see it’s just a rock, scoffing at yourself for the ridiculous notion. Turning back around, you splash a handful of cool water onto your face to revitalize your senses. 

A tender hand, palm up, reaches out to you from the falls. Stepping out of the water’s curtain is the same maiden. Her hand cups your cheek as she steps closer to you and you’re too stunned to move. The maiden’s fingers are cool and soft to the touch. She leans in to you and places the flutter of a kiss on your cheek before diving back into the pool of water. You spin around just quick enough to catch a glimpse of her as she disappears into the river’s depths.