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"I'd rather die than get married to a man" I groaned to myself

I glanced at myself in the mirror, my dark hair was flowing with the water, my golden crown rested on my head with ease. It was a reminder of what was to come. My green eyes looked almost invisible with the amount of decorations these mermaids placed on my face. Starfishes dressed along my chest and pearls wrapped around my wrist

They said I needed to look pretty for my future husband

Well they could all piss off, I don't need a man to survive. I've come all this way on my own and I'd be damned if I let a man make any decisions for me and the rest of my fish life.

I ran a hand through my hair, and admired myself in the mirror, my green and purple tail glittered under the reflected light, a white veil rested on my crown that covered my face. My hands found the shell necklace my mother gave to me. It was the only thing I have left of her

Yeah she's dead.

Call me blunt but that's exactly how I am. People waste too much time beating around the bush. I find it highly annoying.

I was just fourteen when my mother was taken away from me. One day we swam off to the open valley, it was our usual spot to get away from the hustle of our lives. The only part of the ocean where grass grew, we never knew why. But it was different, it's what attracted us to the area in the first place.

But on this day, a few humans with a fetish for fishes decided to throw a net into the ocean. You'd think we'd be smart enough to get away from a simple rope. Sadly it tangled between my tail, my mother tried to free me from its grasp.

With one swift pull, she was taken to the surface. Gone. Just like that, it was far too late for me or anyone to aid to her rescue.

She was gone. I never saw the woman that nurtured me. The woman that was supposed to brush my hair until I shift off to Mer-cademy. The woman that was supposed to be there for me. She was gone.

"Are you ready Aqua?" a voice came from behind, I whipped my neck around to see a mermaid hovering at the door.

"I'm coming" I mumbled, she nodded and swam away, leaving the door slightly ajar

My fingers ran over the shell necklace again, I bit my lips nervously as I recalled the face of my mother. Her strong jawline, her smile that lit up the entire Atlantis, she was special in her own way. A rule breaker, that's something I inherited from her.

She was never scared to speak her mind, I guess that's why my father fell in love with her in the first place.

He was so in love back then, it's been five years. Five years since we both lost someone we loved so dearly.

Neither of us have moved on but we both changed, he changed for the worse. The man consumed himself with work to avoid his feelings

I could understand that he needed an escape but he took it out on me. He fell into a dark hole and trapped himself in there. My father was never the same after that incident, he was the dark cloud of the Atlantis.

And now he was marrying me off to a man I've never seen before. I guess free will doesn't exist in here.

The second I turned eighteen, he knew exactly what to do. Just get rid of me too.

It stings, it really does. How could you marry your only daughter off to a prince. I'm gay for fuck sakes dad!

Men never seemed to catch my attention. You see, my father is the King of Atlantis, many suitors tried to shoot their shot.

My raging homosexuality and disgust for all living men allowed me to reject them all

This one time, a curly red head tried to buy my affection with a thousand clams. Do I seem like a clam person?

I lick pearls, not decorate them. Catch my reference? Wink wink.

It's hard being the Princess and being gay at the same time in a school of fishes and workaholic men. Not alot of women to see, rarely you'd find one that's attracted to the same sex.

The kingdom was flooded with men, Their toxic masculinity made me sick

Ofcourse my father knew I liked women but he paid no attention to it. He said, women should sit on the throne and adhere to the rules given to them.

So I told him to fuck off, simple as that.

Well, that's what I said in my head. When I'm reality, I simply smiled and nodded. Something I've been doing way to much for the past five years.

But not anymore, today is my wedding day and I refuse to go through with this bullshit scam

I've sat still and looked pretty all my life, today was the day I'm taking my stand, I'm representing myself and all the mermaids who's ever felt oppressed by the restriction men.

I sighed and swam my way towards the door, my hair flowed behind my back as my spine dipped into wave like motions, my tail rose and fell, sending a gush of force behind me, jolting my body forward.

I made my way to the cathedral, the walls were lined with growing grass and moss. You might think that's gross but it actually looked beautiful. Part of me felt a little guilty for ruining such hard work-

Nah fuck that.

I floated there at the big oak door, just behind it laid thousands of mermaids and mermen awaiting my arrival. Just behind it held the man that thought he'd leave today with a throphy wife on his arm

Well the bitch thought wrong

"You finally showed up" a deep voice came from beside me, I didn't even take the time to glance at him

"It's not everyday that a girl gets thrown out her family and into the arms of a stranger" I scoffed out

"It's what's good for you Aqua, you'll thank me later" he said, his arms hooked around mine and he pulled a fake smile across his face

The oak doors were pulled aside, the deafening music of the organs began to play, My father smiled and waved at his people, they all seemed more excited for my wedding than I was.

My eyes trailed down the ground, the white carpet like material dragged from the entrance and stopped where my fiance was.

I watched him, he had wavy brown hair, a smirk pulled across his lips as his eyes fell down to my chest. Why you sneaky little bit-

Honestly, he was attractive for a man, I may be gay but I knew what a good looking man looks like.

I felt eyes burn into my sides as I slowly made my way down the isle. The people of Atlantis stared at me until I stopped at the head with the pastor.

"Who gives this woman away" the elderly man said

"I" my father replied, he bowed before heading over to his section

My eyes glanced around, they landed on my family. My uncle gave me a slight smile. His gray hair looked messy.

Uncle Drew was the only person in my family that had any amount of sense, he knew what was happening was wrong. He fought so hard to get me out of it but he was defeated in the end.

That's okay uncle Drew, I'm my own woman now. My father expects me to make my own decisions, I hope he isn't surprised when I kick my fiance in the gills

"We are gathered here today to join Aquamarine and Adam" the pastor went on, I rolled my eyes and drowned his voice out

"Just get to it already" I groaned

"Impatient now are we?" Adam mumbled and winked, I almost threw up right there.

"You betcha" I said with a sarcastic smile

"Is there anyone who thinks these two should not be wedded today, speak now or forever hold your peace" the pastor announced, I glanced at my uncle

He opened his mouth to speak but was held down my two guards, they held their daggers close to his ribs in attempt to warn him. I sighed and gave him a quick nod so he'd know it was okay

"I'm sorry" he mouthed, I turned my attention back towards the man of my dreams.

"Do you Adam, take Aquamarine as your lawfully wedded wife, to have and to hold. To cherish, in sickness and in health, forever and ever?"

"I do" Adam said with a smirk

"And do you, Aquamarine, take Adam to be your lawfully wedded husband. To-" Yadda Yadda Yadda. The same shit being repeated.

He finally finished his sentence and all eyes were on me, it burned into my skull. My people expected a lady of me, a woman to follow their rules. A woman to bring a new king to their colony. A woman to be a trophy. I didn't feel anxious, I didn't feel nervous. I knew what I wanted and this wasn't it.

"Well, do you?" the pastor asked again, I glanced in his direction then back to Adam

"Fuck no"

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