One Dress - short story?

It doesn't matter what got me here.

It doesn't matter what got me here. I was on a boat, I think.

What matters is that now I'm not.

What matters is that I am done fighting.

I have never wished to die.

I have never wished to die. But, I haven't particularly wished to live.

I am the fourth out of seven children.

I am the fourth out of seven children. I have one dress.

I am the fourth out of seven children. I have one dress. I get one meal a day.

I am to be married in seventy-two days. They found me a nice man.

They told me that they found me a nice man.

The truth is, it does not matter if he is nice. To them, he has enough money to spare, and that is what is of importance.

I know I am beautiful.

I know I am beautiful. I have been told I have the elegance of a queen.

I do not care. I have always been somewhat off, or so they whisper

I do not care. I have always been somewhat off, or so they whisper when they don't believe I am listening.

Different.

Now, sinking deeper.

Now, sinking deeper, I notice that the water is not cold.

Shouldn't the water be cold? Shouldn't I struggle to breathe?

I had never seen the ocean before today. That's right, my oldest brother took me away. He said he worked his arse off to get a debt from a man with a little ol' boat.

Well, it worked.

Well, I could start to open my eyes now.

I open my eyes, and it is astounding.

I open my eyes, and I realize I hadn't known just how far down I've come.

The colors dance. It is all alive, but I can barely keep my eyes in one place to figure out what I am quite looking at.

I used to have only one dress.

I used to have only one dress. I do not think I will be needing it anymore.

Sorry, Damien, I think I've found where I belong.

You see, I do not have any trouble down here.

You see, I do not have any trouble down here because I have a tail.

Longer than my legs ever were, but I still carry my strength. I'm a green I can't quite place. Somewhere between evergreens and that gemstone I can't seem to name.

I may have stumbled upon a reason to wish for life.

And: I promise you will too.