I am a trader, little mermaid

I felt the warm mushy sand under my feet

I left an impression in the sand

The setting sun made my face warm

The waves calmly swayed back and forth

The view was breathtaking

I began choking!

I couldn’t breathe!

I was at the seashore again

I dove back into the ocean

I frantically swam into the depths of the sea

I could taste the air from above

I dream about walking everyday

How could I though after hearing the history of my people?

Humans want us extinct

They killed my grandfather

Yet I want to be one of them

I am a trader!

All my sisters love the sea and would never go against my father’s words

But yet there is an itch that creeps up on me

But when I swim to the shore the itch disappears

I swim to shore daily, but today was different

A human saw me

He thought I was a human girl

I got so excited

But then dread took control

I immediately fell in love with this human

He had dark black silky hair that swayed in the wind just like the waves in my dreams

He had green eyes like the seaweed under the sea

His voice was deep, but soft

How could I fall in love with a Human!

I swam to the shore again and there he was

The beautiful human

He jumped into the water

He was right next to me

He touched my scales

He yelled in fear

I swam away

I cried myself to sleep

The next day I couldn’t help but go back

He said I was beautiful

He saw my mermaid tail

He just smiled

I fell deeper and deeper in love

But something was off

Deep inside I knew our love could never be

He never seemed to react

He would bring me human food

He collected my trash

I never asked why

This night was different he brought friends along

I remember eating a soft and warm chocolate cookie

Then I drifted into a deep sleep

I awoke to be trapped in a tank

I saw the human I loved watch me closely

I didn’t understand what was happening

There was pain in my arm

A cold metal needle was deeply embedded

I just wanted to swim away

He wanted to kill me!

I am a trader

I should have listened to my father

Now I am facing death

I will see you soon grandfather

I betrayed my father and my home

I should have listened

I am a trader