Imagine

Imagine. Imagine the waves gently crashing far above you. Imagine the fresh morning light spreading through the water, revealing the seas many wonders and beauty. Feel the water caressing your body, drifting around you as you gently kick your legs propelling yourself forward and you bask in the joy of being so close to such majestic sea creatures. Imagine the sea floor several feet below you brimming with life.

See the fish darting in and out of the corals and rocks. Watch as the seaweed reaches up towards you and rocks gently within the easy current. Imagine that feeling of feeling at peace and as one with the world around you. All of your worries drift away associated with the world above you.

Then something brushes against your leg and you twist around to see if that tiny fish that has been following you is satisfying its curiosity, Disappointment settles in your gut when instead of your little friend you see a plastic bottle drifting past. Then you see another and another. You reach out to catch it but it escapes your reach.

The tranquil world you thought you dived into is falling apart before your eyes. Looking around with fresh eyes you see more and more rubbish. Plastic bags swim past like empty jellyfish and you gasp, bubbles escaping your mouth bubbling up to the surface. Your little fish has got himself caught and you kick and dive forward to release him. You are fast enough but you cannot stop him from falling into the same trap again.

For now he swims downwards and joins the others below. Now you see the bits of plastic scattered along the floor, stuck beneath sand, snared around corals. It dances in the current beside the seaweed. You pause and drift in the water, not making any move to rise or fall. Plastic surrounds you and you think of the rest of the ocean, littered like the world above. All of these majestic sea creatures, great and small are being threatened and invaded by this threat they have not contributed to.

Imagine now that you propel yourself up to the light and your friends assist you back onto the boat where they already have several bags filled with plastics of all kinds. See their faces of disappointment that mirrors yours. You all love the sea and its inhabitants. It hurts you to see what is below and what sits on the waves. Your friends have been collecting as much as they can.

Now stop imagining. This is real. The oceans are filling with plastics. They are invading the food chain; trapping fish, turtles, birds; strangling them. You can do something about this. You can look at what you are using, what and who you are supporting. Stop using throwaway plastic packaging. Re-use your shopping bags and avoid microbeads. Together we can make a difference.

Now imagine swimming again. This time it is clear and the world below is thriving, no dangers.

 https://www.wattpad.com/638334874-planetorplastic-writing-contest-planetorplastic