“Papa, Papa… Papa, come.”
“You will not fall. Trust me.”
Latty could not see. She was a blind young woman, holding her walking stick tightly as she stood at one end of the bridge. Her dress moved gently in the morning breeze. Her heart beat fast. She could hear the river below, slow but deep, whispering as if it were alive.
On the other side of the bridge stood her father.
“Come, Latty,” he called. His voice sounded gentle, almost loving.
Latty shook her head slightly.
“Papa, I’m scared,” she said. Her voice was small. She had always trusted his voice, even when his words hurt her.
“There is nothing to fear,” he replied quickly. “Just keep coming. I am here.”
Latty took one step. The wood creaked beneath her feet. Her grip on the stick tightened. She took another step, then another. With every move, her fear grew.
Her father did not warn her. He did not shout. He only stood there watching, with a slow smile spreading across his face — a smile filled with hate.
One step. Two steps. Three steps.
Suddenly, her stick touched empty air.
The bridge had ended.
Before she could pull back, her foot slipped forward.
“Papa!” she cried, her voice breaking as her body fell.
The river opened its mouth and swallowed her. Her scream was cut short by the water. Her last word echoed once.
“Papa…”
Then silence.
The water was cold and heavy. It rushed into Latty’s ears, her nose, her mouth. She sank fast. Her arms moved wildly, but there was nothing to grab. Her chest burned. Fear wrapped around her like chains.
Above the river, her father stood still for a moment, listening.
When there was no more sound, his lips curved into a smile.
“Yes,” he whispered, his voice shaking with joy. “The useless blind girl is finally out of my life.”
He turned and walked away, not knowing he was not alone.
Deep inside the river, something moved.
A mermaid had been watching everything. Her eyes were sharp and glowing, her skin smooth like wet stone. She had seen many wicked humans, but this one made her heart burn.
She swam quickly toward Latty, who was already losing strength. Latty’s body was sinking, her movements slowing. The mermaid reached her and gently touched her nose.
“Breathe,” she said.
The word carried power.
Suddenly, Latty gasped. Air filled her chest even though she was still underwater. Her fear paused. She opened her mouth again, and she could breathe.
Her body stopped fighting.
The mermaid held her hand firmly and pulled her deeper into the river — away from the surface, away from the bridge, away from the man who had tried to kill her.
Strange lights appeared around them as they swam, glowing softly in the dark water. The river became quiet, as if it were hiding them.
Latty’s father walked home with light steps and a happy heart. He felt free.
When he reached his house, he saw Latty’s mother standing outside, looking left and right. Her face was full of fear.
“Are you okay?” he asked, pretending to care.
“I’ve been looking for Latty,” she said quickly. “She has never left this house alone before. I asked the neighbors. I asked the children. Nobody has seen her.”
Her hands were shaking.
Her husband shrugged and avoided her eyes.
“I didn’t see her,” he replied. “Maybe she went somewhere.”
He walked inside calmly.
Latty’s mother felt something break inside her. She tied her wrapper tightly and began walking around the village, calling her daughter’s name loudly.
“Latty, my child, Latty!”
Her voice cracked as tears ran down her face. Villagers came out of their houses. Some followed her. Some shook their heads sadly. No one had an answer.
The bridge stood quietly in the distance. The river flowed as if nothing had happened. And the man who knew the truth sat inside his house, eating while a mother searched for her child.
Latty had been blind from the day she was born. From that same day, her father’s heart turned cold toward her. He always said she brought him bad luck. He said her blindness was a sign of disgrace.
Her mother cried many nights, holding baby Latty close, begging her husband to love their child. But he never did.
Instead, he took another wife, saying he needed normal children.
That second wife soon gave birth to a girl named Toro. Toro had bright eyes and a strong voice. Her father loved her openly. He carried her on his shoulders and showed her to everyone.
Latty felt everything even though she could not see it. She heard the laughter. She heard the love that was never for her.
Still, her mother never failed her. She fed Latty with care. She sang to her every night. She made her feel important in a world that treated her like nothing.
When Latty turned nineteen, she made a small wish. She wanted to walk around the village like other girls. Her mother agreed and asked the neighbor’s daughter to guide her.
As they walked slowly that day, a gold seller saw her. He heard her voice — soft, calm, beautiful. Something touched his heart instantly.
The gold seller’s name was Eba. He was rich and respected. That day, he could not forget Latty. He asked questions quietly. When he learned she had been blind from birth, his heart did not change.
He told his mother he wanted to marry her.
His mother refused at once.
“A blind girl?” she said angrily. “Never.”
But Eba stood firm. He told her he would take Latty to the white man’s land to fix her eyes. He believed she was special.
One evening, Eba came to Latty’s house with palm wine and gifts. Elders gathered. He spoke clearly.
“I want to marry Latty.”
Latty’s father laughed loudly.
“Why would a normal man marry a blind girl?” he asked. Then he pointed proudly at Toro. “Look at my second daughter. Beautiful, complete.”
But Eba shook his head.
“I want Latty,” he said again.
Greed entered Latty’s father’s eyes. Eba was rich — very rich. But shame and hatred for Latty burned even stronger.
That night, hatred filled his heart.
“Before she brings me disgrace,” he said quietly, “she must disappear.”
That was why he took Latty to the bridge that day.
Now, deep under the river, Latty floated calmly, holding the mermaid’s hand. Strange glowing stones surrounded them. Latty felt warmth instead of fear.
“Who are you? Where are you taking me?” she asked softly.
The mermaid looked at her with eyes full of meaning but did not answer yet.
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