Short Writings to fill the cup

A Fish

I was once a fish who lived in a pond. My world boundaries ended at the edges where the water met the soil. One day, something came out from beyond my world. They approach the edge where the soil and water met. At first, I was cautious, however, day after day that thing kept coming back. I don’t know how long, but one day I gather the little courage I had and approach the edge. There the thing spoke. It spoke of the beauties outside my world. The illustrations and stories it told me captivated me. I was afraid at first, to step out of the pond. However, the more stories I heard from it, the deeper the yearning to leave became. One day, I finally step out beyond my pond. The thing was excited, it asked me where I wanted to go. I have heard many stories from it, but the one that truly capture my short memory was the one with many others living things. So, I asked where it was when it encounter other things. The thing pointed in a certain direction. I started to walk toward the direction pointed, however, notice that the thing wasn’t coming with me. I turn back to it and asked why it wasn’t coming along. The thing replied that it had traveled all over and had come to take a little break before it travels some more. Nodding my head to its words I continue toward the direction pointed.

 

            I once was a fish. Who knew nothing and no one. There was no relationship to maintain, no information needed in the pond I use to live in. Now I must keep my relationship with others alive or I will feel alone in this world. I must know information so that I can live by it. The world that was once so small and simple has expanded so far that I can’t even see the boundaries anymore. It has become so complicated with all the relationships that I am building, maintaining, and losing. My actions which once were non-important now have become the foundation of what is to come. I never knew what the future was, never needing to understand it as I live day by day and not think of tomorrow. Now, the future is the concept of not knowing what will happen and worrying about it all the time.

 

            I once was a fish. Who grew out of being fish to become something else. However, the world I now live in makes it seem like I should have stayed a fish. A fish with no worries about the future, a fish who can see its world’s boundaries, who do not need connections to others. I once was a fish but am no more.