The Office of Historical Corrections

Lyssa is the protagonist of the story “Happily Ever After.” She works at a replica of the Titanic in the gift shop. Her boss discriminates against her, not allowing her to dress up as a princess for children’s birthday parties, citing “historical accuracy” because she is Black. However, she does not seem bothered by the fact, especially after she is chosen by a director to be in a music video while her white coworker, Mackenzie, is not. Throughout the text, she struggles with her mother’s death and what it means for her to also be at risk for ovarian cancer. She cannot fully articulate why she does not go through with surgery to remove her ovaries, but her decision to break up with Travis for suggesting she prioritize her health over having children creates several possibilities. It might be that she wants children or that she wants to believe in an optimistic future (symbolized by children) rather than a pessimistic one (symbolized by cancer). The story’s title and reference to The Little Mermaid at the start of the text imply Lyssa’s desire for her own fairy tale ending; like Ariel, this involves choosing romantic idealism over concrete safety.