On The Other Side Of The Line

A crowd gathered near the shore in the old port town.

Women have always been punished for crossing the line. Eve took a bite of the apple. Sita crossed the line drawn by one man, to be kidnapped by another. The crimes against women have increased since, and the victim blamed.

I tried to escape on a boat, and had my legs cut off. But I have learnt how to swim. There is no helplessness on the other side of the line.

So saying, the mermaid spat on the perpetrator…. it was the venom she had carried for ages.