Planet or Plastic

1

The woman swam alongside the creature, tall and lanky yet graceful. Her muscles ached in her thighs and her blonde hair tickled her shoulder blades.

She glances over at the beautiful creature, smiling fondly at the thought of her ocean friend always being there. She always thought the ocean was peaceful and the creatures of the ocean deserved nothing but happiness.

She glides through the water swiftly, like a knife slicing through cheese, and wiggles her body to create bubbles. She giggles under the water as the creature next to her copies her.

She wiggles her legs only and he swings his tail.

She moves her arms and he shakes his body.

She wiggles her torso like a worm and he spins around in circles.

The smile on her face is prominent as she interacts with the animal. She continues her journey through the calm waters, gawking at the beautiful scenery.

She swims by a small school of fish, all colored differently. Some blue, some pink, some green, some purple. She waves at the fish and swims onward.

The smile on her face never fades as she passes the amazing creatures. They're all so graceful and harmless, thinks the girl.

She spots a rock and slowly sinks down onto it. Her friend treads near her, watching the fish swim carefully through the water.

The water is shallow, shallow enough for the sun to shine through and reflect across their gills. The light reaching the girls eyes is blinding, but she still stares. The beauty of it takes her aback, gaining her attention immediately.

Groups of fish weave in and out of the ocean plants. She spots something and it draws her nearer, seeming to call her name.

Something shining brighter than the rest. It seems to shine straight into her eyes. She moves forward to investigate, moving rocks with her hands as she does so.

She wraps her fingers gently around the object, brining it towards her face for further inspection.

A bottle.

The girl looks at it questioningly, wondering how it could have gotten there.

She glances up, the sun shining through the waves directly into her eyes. She looks around and sees a plastic bag floating in the water. Then another. Then another. Soon she sees so many that there are no fish left.

There are bits and pieces of paper and other trash floating around too.

She swims back to her rock, sitting on it softly. Her friend swims next to her.

She looks over at her friend only to find that her friend isn't a friend at all. Her friend isn't even alive at all.

Her friend is a plastic bag.

A tear runs down her cheek. Not that anyone could tell.

The ocean is dying.