Dear Diary, It's Me Eleanor

Dear Diary,

It's me, Eleanor. I know that you are probably disappointed in me. I am disappointed with myself. I know you are wondering how I could have done this. I am still struggling with why I did this. Let me try and explain my thought process though this whole event.

It all started when I met this boy, or I guess I should really say "saw" this boy. Doesn't it always start with some boy? Dad took my sisters and me from Ireland to London on his business trip. You remember how I had always been dreaming about going to London. All of my sisters got to go but I was never old enough to go until this year. Dad made a deal with me and my four older sisters that we were only allowed to go on business trips when we turned twenty. Why twenty you ask? Because each of my sisters and I would inherit twenty percent of his company once he decided to retire. Dad was intent on keeping the business in the family and since he did not have any living siblings, this was the only way to ensure that.

London was everything that I imagined it would be. The city was absolutely incredible and much different than Ireland. Ireland is just full of hills and grass. Don't get me wrong, I love Ireland. I just wanted a new experience in the city. As we were walking past Big Ben, I spotted this boy.

He was the most handsome boy I have ever seen. He was tall with dark hair, and had a Oxford University sweatshirt on. I felt as if my heart skipped a beat. Well, since I couldn't keep my eyes off of him, I could see that a car was coming straight for him and it didn't look like it was going to stop. I yelled at him to get his attention and luckily he looked at me. Well, when he looked at me, he stopped walking, which prevented him from getting hit by the car. I could tell he was looking around trying to see where the voice came from, but it was too late. I was too far out of his sight. I saved his life and he didn't even know what I looked like.

Throughout that day, I could not stop thinking about that boy. I mean it was fate that I was and that I saw that car, right? Perhaps it was a sign that I should move to London? I knew that if I told my father about my plans, he would not be very happy. In fact, my whole family would be against it. As much as my sisters loved visiting London, they always said that it was not a suitable place for people like us to live. Additionally, if one of us did decide to move, I am not sure that Dad would have financially supported us. Knowing this, I decided to go visit my mom's sister, my aunt Ursula.

Early that next morning, I arrived at my Aunt Ursula's house. I had to travel all the way to Cambridge at the crack of dawn because my Dad (as well as the rest of my sisters) aren't particuarly fond of her. Right before my mother died, my aunt and her got into a really big fight. Apparently it had something to do with jealously, but that is another story for another day.

When my Aunt opened the door, I could barely recognize her. Perhaps this was because I was three the last time I saw her. Before I could even say hi, my Aunt coldly asked me how much money I needed. How did she know that I came to her for money? Maybe its common for nieces to go to their estranged aunt's house in search for finacial help?

To be honest, I felt a little guilty about the whole sitution, so explained to her why I needed the money. I thought she would have shown me a little empathy, as she was once sixteen and in love, but nope. Nothing but laughter. To my utter shock, she agreed to give me enough money to live in London for five months. However, there was a catch. She would only give the money if I was willing to give her my portion of my dad's company. I knew if I went through with this deal, my dad would never forgive me for giving my shares to my Aunt. Additionally, I would not be able to return home, as I would probably be disowned. Against my better judgement, I signed over my shares and walked out with the money.

I know what you are thinking, but hear me out. Haven't you ever been in love? Love makes you do crazy things. It's even a proven scientific fact.. I think.

Part 2

Author's Note

This story is loosely based upon The Little Mermaid. In the original version of The Little Mermaid, the youngest mermaid is finally able to go above the surface of the water on her fifteenth birthday. One day, when she is looking above the surface, she spots a boat that has a prince on it. Unfortunately, that boat wrecks and the prince is thrown into the sea. The mermaid is able to rescue him and falls in love with him, even though he has no idea who she is. The mermaid goes to the wicked sea witch in order to turn into a human, since mermaids can't survive outside of water. The wicked sea witch gives the mermaid legs in exchange for her angelic voice. (She steals her voice by cutting out her tongue). This deal has one catch; if the prince doesn't marry the mermaid, she will turn into foam. Even though her humans legs cause her so much pain and she cannot speak, she is able to live outside of water, she finds the prince and they fall in love, well, sort of. The prince ends up marrying another princess, and the mermaid ends up going to an in between place for three hundred years. She will only be able to return to earth after that time period.

Bibliography

The Little Mermaid. Fairy Tales and Stories by Hans Christian Andersen, translated by H. P. Paull (1872).