Mermaid

If I had known my tears were doors for summoning sea demons, I wouldn’t have tried so hard to cry. There are plenty of other things I wouldn’t have done either, but the sea has ways of getting into my head, into my dreams—ways of making me do things, and even worse, making me think I wanted to do them.

I grew up about as far from the ocean as anyone can get. Plenty of rivers and lakes nearby, but sadly it's all freshwater and the sea isn't even a dream in their courses.

I grew up fearing water, not trusting it, uncomfortable with more than five gallons gathered in one place. I mean real fear, like the sound of running water made my knees shake. That's the work of Matrothy, the Girl's Department Director.

I was four years old the first time she tried to drown me...