Worsens

After another ten minutes, Magi's discomfort turned to alarm. Something was wrong with the tail. It moved strangely, as if the clasps May had adjusted were beginning to come undone. With each flick of her tail, the costume detached a little more from her waist.

At first, she tried to ignore it, focusing on smiling and keeping one hand on the oxygen tank. But it soon became impossible: the tail began to slip dangerously, forcing Magi to use both hands to hold it in place. The problem was obvious: she needed one hand for the oxygen mask and another for the tail, but both were occupied trying to prevent her complete exposure. The shame reached its peak. Visitors continued to record, some now openly pointing at Magi's silent struggle underwater.

She desperately searched for May, pleading with her eyes to let her get out, to end this nightmare. But May remained unmoving, just watching from the other side of the glass.

It was then that she felt the last clasp give way.

The tail came off her waist with a smooth but irreversible movement. Magi tried to catch it, but it was too late. The heavy artificial fin sank slowly to the bottom, leaving her legs and, worse, her entire body completely exposed to everyone.

The shame was so intense it stole her breath. She felt the world stop for an instant… until survival instinct kicked in.

Without waiting for permission, without caring about the job, or May, or anything else, she swam forcefully to the surface. She emerged agitated, her heart about to burst, and scrambled clumsily out of the water, soaked and trembling. She ran straight for the exit without looking back, feeling every drop of cold water on her skin as a reminder of what had just happened.

She left the tail behind on the bottom of the aquarium, along with the remains of her dignity.