The Shore

A lifeguard finds a merman stranded away from the abyss. Uniform shirt plastered to his back by sweat. The merman’s tail twitches on the sand. Water runs off his body in drops. The lifeguard drops to his knees. He pulls the foreskin back, runs his tongue over the exposed head. Salt and skin. He spreads the merman’s cheeks. Tongue finds the hole and pushes in. The merman moans, pushes back. Sun burns both bodies. The lifeguard works his fingers inside, opens him slow. The merman gasps. The lifeguard pushes deeper, wrist deep now, forearm disappearing while the tail thrashes. A slick fist disappears. Pulls back. Slides in again. The merman arches. Muscles lock. Water laps the shore. The fist stays buried until the tail jerks once and the body goes slack. Both men stay on the sand, breathing hard. Sun keeps burning. 2021.