Thelittlemermaidswamclosertothesurface,herlonggoldenhairfloatinglikeseaweedinthegentlecurrents.Asshebrokethroughtheshimmeringwaves,thefirstlightofdawnpaintedtheskyinsofthuesofpinkandorange.Thesaltairfilledherlungs,sodifferentfromthecoolwatersheusuallybreathed.Farinthedistance,shespottedtheprince'sship,itswhitesailsbillowinginthemorningbreeze.Herheartachedwithlongingasshewatchedthewoodenvesselcutthroughthewaves-aworldsonearyetsoimpossiblyfarfromherown.Theseagullscriedoverhead,theirvoicescarryingacrossthewater,remindingherofthesistersshe'dleftbehindinthecoralpalacefarbelow.Foramoment,shehesitated,tornbetweenthefamiliardepthsandtheunknownworldabove.Then,withadeterminedflickofheremerald-greentail,shebeganswimmingtowardtheship,eachpowerfulstrokecarryingherfurtherfromherhomeandclosertoherdestiny.
