Specticle

Recently, I often I find myself in the same place, bathed in blue light and watching as the creatures in front of me flow by. Sometimes they stop to look back at me, pressing their faces as close as they can get to the glass that stands between us, sometimes they just pass by as if my presence couldn't even begin to interest them. I don't really know why I'm here, but it brings me comfort, it makes me feel as if I'm not alone, as if the world around me isn't so vast and scary.

Some of my favorite things to see in this place are when the creatures get excited and forget to watch where they are going, it often ends with them crashing into each other or sometimes a wall. Another is when, what I can only assume to be their care taker, offers them food. It's like the rest of the world vanishes and all that exists is the treat being handed to them, their eyes shimmering like the surface of the water.

Sometimes the creatures come in pairs, moving about each other as if they are the only two around, holding on to one another as if they'd be swept away from each other the moment they were apart. Other times they come in groups, moving as a single unit, some of them looking as if they wished to be somewhere else, some like they were having the time of their lives, but none of them strayed from the group. Maybe they thought they'd be left behind if they did. It was the combination of all these different things, these experiences and the questions they caused to form in my mind that kept me here. Why do they behave the way they do? Why are we so different? It was exciting.

My least favorite thing is when it's time for the lights to go out and all of the creatures seem to go into hiding, the noise of the day fading so that only a low hum can be heard emanating endlessly through the night. This is when I'm reminded of how things used to be, the silence and emptiness that surrounded me through my life until I found this place. Now the darkness is filled with colors and my days filled with the curious gazes of the creatures as I pass them by.

They may not know how much they mean to me, but watching them everyday, as they wonder through their lives, fills my heart with happiness. Every time the smaller ones rush up to meet me, pointing and smiling as if I am the greatest thing they've ever seen it makes my flippers quiver with pride. Even on the days I don't feel like doing much more than lounging about, they are simply happy to see me.

I may not be the largest or fastest sea turtle in the world, but I don't mind. As I do lazy rounds and simple tricks the creatures still watch and clap. As the creature, who often brings me food, communicates with them while gesturing to me, no doubt explaining the perks of a green sea turtle, they watch in awe. Some times the little ones will even throw tiny pieces of food into the water for me, though they usually get in trouble with the larger creatures that accompany them. Yes, I truly am glad to be in this place. Here I don't have to worry if what I assume to be food will be the last thing I ever eat. Here I don't have to constantly watch the water around me, hoping something isn't looking for a bite out of one of my fins. Here I don't have get lost in the vastness of the deep, dark and dangerous ocean. I am happy in this small world that was made just for me.