And the young man, in turn, told her he'd never seen anyone more beautiful in his life. He told her he wished he could be with her forever... but he also knew this was impossible. He couldn't live in the sea, and she couldn't live on the land. He was a poor man, and that ship had been the only one he could afford to go on. Now that he was without coin, he'd never be able to go on to the sea again. Yet he wanted to keep this precious memory of their meeting with him always.

The gem mermaid was touched by his honeyed words, and also wanted to cherish their precious meeting. So she offered to give him her most treasure... her one and only pearl. So a part of her would be with him always.