This is a lovely reimagining of ‘The Little Mermaid.’ Essarala learned of the traders from her cousins' gossip, and she lingered near the interpreters, watching and wishing. She longed to explore their ship and ask them to take her with them to the stars. But the more she listened, the more she learned, and one thing became obvious: their ship might carry water for its crew to drink, but it didn't contain water for a mer to live in.

It was due to a stupid thing done in a fit of panic that Fwadausi Bello altered her life forever.

Excellent interview with author Amy Hempel.

The ones in the comments are better than the ones in the article. Laughed until I cr*ed y'all!