• I lived in a castle in the sea with my father, sisters, grandmother, and other merfolk who wished they could have such a beautiful singing voice like me.
    I was the youngest of six, and my father was the king.
    Then when I turned fifteen, and able to peek my head out of the rough water.
    A ship sailed in front of me, and tossed a handsome man out to sea.
    It was my job to save him, as I thought he could grant me my dream to walk on land and explore vast otherworldly things.
    Breathing life into him until I saw fit, I began to sing, and life returned to his body.
    If my father found out he’d see no benefit, and send a army.
    I dashed away as fast as I could with tired fins, and all the boy saw were crashing waves upon a large jutting rock where I could sit and watch for him.
    My desire grew so strong, the sea witch came along and ask me what it is I wish.
    She would let me have whatever I want.
    I wished to have legs, so I could charm this mysterious man, and make him my own, for I wanted his spirit and high hopes.
    It’s fate, I thought, but make no mistake.
    You see, the witch needed a fee.
    This gift, my beautiful voice, could no longer belong to me.
    Still, I traded it away for a chance to get away, and be loved by the man-a prince in fact.
    But when I arrived, he looked into my eyes.
    He didn’t recognize me as the girl who saved his life.
    He didn’t love me.
    The prince had a fiancé, and soon-to-be wife.
    They were married and slept together.
    My sisters came to me.
    They said the sea witch can give me back my tail, if I stab the prince in his bed with a dagger.
    If I didn’t, and my dream got denied, then I’d turn into foam in the great ocean, and wash up in the tide.
    I saved a life that wasn’t my own, for the beloved prince remained sleeping peacefully in his magnificent home.
    Now I’m in the air floating free with all the other soulless ones similar me.
    There are many good deeds to be done if I want to flee.
    I’ll have a new pure soul and enter my final destination.
    The grand kingdom much larger than what I’ve ever seen.
    Finally, a real chance to be freed.