First published 2020
David casts his line into Caribbean waters near Black Conch in 1976 when something extraordinary surfaces. A mermaid named Aycayia swims into his world, her human form lost centuries ago when jealous wives transformed her with a curse. American tourists capture the creature, but David intervenes. He brings Aycayia to his home where salt water no longer surrounds her. Her tail disappears. Legs emerge. She starts becoming human again. David watches her struggle with walking, speaking, remembering what it means to live on land after endless years alone in the ocean. The island community reacts with fear and wonder to her presence. Aycayia must rebuild connections with people while inhabiting a body that feels foreign. David and Aycayia develop feelings for each other as she heals from her isolation. They face the complications of her transformation together. The question remains whether her curse can be broken permanently or if the sea will reclaim her.
Genres: romance, fantasy, contemporary, magical-realism
Vibes: intimate, lyrical, thought-provoking
Tropes: fish-out-of-water, found-family
Setting: Black Conch, Caribbean
Period: 1976
Audio CD