I swam with them, peacefully, gently, skimming through the creamy surface. The water was a vague light cyan. Little slivers of light gently filtered through and made our skin shine even more. We darted. No threats, no sharks, no whales. I think we were safe, I nodded at the others. We swam.
I peered deep down where darkness swallowed everything up like a hungry child. I shuddered, no, we’d never go down there. We were happy up here, where thin slivers of sun made the sea glimmer like a thousand stars. Where food was fresh and good, where we’d know if threats came. I nodded to the others and we fanned out. I skimmed through the sea. Water running easily off my body and disappearing behind me. My eyes darted from side to side. The others gave me friendly smiles as we all swam. We smoothly cut through the water. I felt streams of bubbles caress me like friendly cats. Then I saw it.
Out in the distance, many feet from where we were swimming. A vague stream of bubbles was whirling around. In a frothy ball, it jerked and swirled. But I also noticed it was getting bigger and bigger and-
A fishing boat! Coming right for us!
I turned in horror to my friends, their eyes filled with panic and soon they all whirled and in one smooth move, darted off. My feet fumbled clumsily when I realized all of them were gone. I turned, ready to follow their bubble trails. When suddenly a baby current pushed against me and I turned. I froze as I saw the thin spider-web shaped net. I whirled and flapped my feet desperately. But bubbles pushed me in the wrong direction and I flailed forward as the net inched closer and closer. Then I watched in horror as the nets sides came into my vision and started swallowing me up! I tried hard to swim but currents and bubbles slammed me back with a crushing force. Then I felt thin biting strands of net dig into my back and I was plunged, flopping, into open air.
I felt warm air blow across my face and glimpsed waves.
It’s a hard life for a fish like me in an ocean of nets.