Dare to Begin // PlanetOrPlastic

.it starts with you.

"What's that, Mother?"

Finally, I was tall enough (standing on the tips of my toes) to see over the steel fence in our backyard. What I saw behind that was like nothing I'd ever seen before. In our neighbourhood of silvers and bright metallic colours, the dull browns and greys were odd and messy. I didn't like the look of it.

Mother crossed over briskly, heels tapping sharply on our glass porch. "That's just the ocean, girl." she said irritably, when she peered over.

"Why's it look like that?", I persisted. There were drifty brown things and floaty flat things piled on like an island, with water surrounding. That was an ocean? The ocean. Ocean. The word tasted funny in my mouth. "And why's it behind our fence?"

"It's behind the fence so that no one will have to put up with such an eyesore," She rolled her eyes. "It just doesn't fit, you know—"She gestured around at our sleek silver and glass neighbourhood, immaculate turquoise house, and shining city.

"In everyone's part of things, that shouldn't be a part of anything. No one wants anything to do with it." 

Before I could say another word, she chirped, "—Meeting at three, see you later, love!—" and out.

Ocean. What a pretty word. In my head, it conjured up definitions like sparkling, and stunning, and spectacular, and majestic. The ocean should not be a dump. Glancing over again, I could almost make out something like the packaging of Mother's latest Miranda Brant designer headpiece. Peculiar. I knew it wasn't right. Wouldn't it live up to that magical name?

But what could I do?

"Follow the wisdom of the sea,"

I was chin deep in the ocean. It was garbage floating all around me. Plastic bags, tin cans, foam cups. Bile rose in my throat, but more painful still were the tears quickly welling up in my eyes. How could I never have questioned where all our rubbish went?

Something moved near me. I flinched and tilted my chin up.

My hand found a broad, feathery surface. A feeling of grace, but weariness spread through me.

Suddenly, I was underwater, gliding along with a unique creature. I somehow knew that it was a manta ray. The ride was anything but smooth, though. The currents were clogged with plastics, and the waters were uncomfortably warm. I hated it. It was painful to see everything that I knew I was a part of.

In everyone's part of things, why couldn't we stop this?

"I wish I could do something."

I sighed and bubbles rose up. I didn't notice at first, but I slowly realised the water was cooling, and there was less and less trash as we went on. When the water was blue and green and I felt energy throbbing everywhere, it said to me,

'This is what it was.'

'This past can be your future.'

I nodded. I can do something.

And I will.

———