The Guppy And The Light
LARA SENIOR
Two fish swam by the peculiar hub of a bubble, catching the eye of a small guppy who resides within it.
“Have you heard of the legend?” said the fish with a tied scrunchie to her tail.
“What legend?” replied her companion, a taller fish with a red tie hung around her body.
“They say whoever ventures towards the light above will be granted a wish.” Bubbles formed out of the scrunchie fish’s mouth as she explained. “Though, no one has succeeded in getting there.”
The fish were swimming out of view, their voices dissipating into the big blue along with their shadowed bodies. But the curiosity of this legend lingered within the confines of the bubble guppy’s mind.
This little guppy had a quaint life. Her bubble was thin and translucent that acted as a border separating her from the outside world. It may be small and contained, but it was her world. She was familiar with each part of her surroundings; from the way the sea grass flowed and swayed to the positioning of every rock and pebble and from how deep she laid, light was hard to capture. However, parts of it would bounce onto the surface of the bubble, emanating a hue of luscious blue that flowed along with the water.
Along with the quiet of her home came a routine she had grown familiar with. Wake up, eat, tend to the small garden of weeds and shrubbery, then search for items that other sea dwellers have misplaced near her bubble before going to sleep. She was content with this life; it was something that she was used to. But with every sea dweller that would pass by her home, she wished that she had a companion alongside her.
The fact of the matter was that she was a lone guppy. It was unusual for the social creature that she was, but she could not connect with other fish. This was okay with her. She found solace in being on her own. But it did not quell the empty void that she felt in her chest. Sometimes, she would make up for this emptiness by coming up with endless conversation ideas or inserting herself into the conversation of each school that would swim by. Yet it wasn’t enough.
Her interest only piqued upon overhearing this legend of the deep blue. She heard a lot of interesting stories and facts from different fish before, but none that made her feel this intrigued. The conversation continued to bounce in her mind as she swam towards the top of the bubble. She placed her fins against the rubbery texture as she took her sights at the faint light that gleamed rays of warmth. The more that she stared at it, the more enraptured she became of its capabilities. It was a temptation that she could not shake off.
She had never ventured out of her bubble before. This hub was all that she had ever known, and it was something that she had never thought of doing. The deep blue seemed daunting and dangerous. The shade was something that she could stare at for hours and feel that there was no end. But if other fish have traversed through these seas, then she could too, couldn’t she?
Besides, she wanted a friend. Someone to confide in.
When would she find another opportunity like this again?
Pressing her fins further into the rubber of the bubble, she edged herself closer to the barrier. She didn’t realise how sturdy the boundary was, especially with how thin it was. The process was slow, but eventually, a pop echoed into the distant waters as her body toppled out. She idly floated, taking a deep breath as she processed the uncharted waters that entered her gills. She had done it. The little guppy had found her way out of the small bubble. It was behind her, radiating a soft light blue amongst the darkness of the surrounding waters. A hopeful feeling stirred in her gut. Soon, the guppy will be back with a friend.
Now the only way to the light was up.
A few hours had passed since she started her venture towards the light above the vast sea waters. She figured that the adventure would be easy since all she had to do was swim up. Swimming up was easy; she swam all the time. Except the little guppy didn’t take into consideration just how far the surface was from her humble abode.
She had to take a few breaks to restore her stamina and energy. Her tail had grown stiff from swimming the distance that she had, and she had no clue how much progress that she had made; but taking a few pit stops during her journey had allowed her to discover a lot of new things. Her eyes would be filled with curiosity and awe upon seeing the vibrant colours of the coral and the hidden gems that lie within plain sight. The deep blue had slowly grown into a livelier colour, one that she wasn’t used to, but took a liking for. It made her chest fill up with pure adrenaline and excitement to see the glow of the light above. She might not be close but gave her a sense of reassurance. Once she had granted her wish, she could share all these wonders with her new friend. She was sure of it.
The light was glowing brighter as she continued to swim upwards, but she started to feel a dreaded feeling in her chest. Throughout her venture, she had not once come across any other sea creature. She had seen the shadows of fish that would pass nearby, but not anyone who would approach her. The solitude was initially something that she was fine with, but the silence was starting to grow deafening. Every subtle movement would cause her heart to jump and every time she thought someone was near, she was proven otherwise. The sea was so vast, and she felt so tiny compared to it. It felt like there was someone looming in the depths, watching her every move.
The guppy would attempt to shake this daunting feeling away with every new discovery she would come across. Various items would pique her interest, like the soggy rectangular sheets of paper and the curious looking hard covers of cardboard. Her mind raced with the different scenarios where she would show all her findings to her new friend, and it gave her the motivation to keep swimming upwards.
The excitement laid upon her like a mask, hiding the concerns she had within the depths of her mind. She could not shake the stalking feeling. It was like she had eyes pieced onto her body, a feeling that only intensified as the thoughts grew.
The little guppy let out a yelp as she was caught in an influx of rushing waters. The seas that were once calm before had now grown rapid; rough within the moonlight. Waves crashed upon her frame as she toppled and tossed into the waters. Crashing sounds and the flashing of lights accompanied the dangerous zone she had ventured towards, and she felt enclosed in space. It was getting hard to breathe with all the water that would rush into her small body.
The only thing that she had going for her was the light, which was now beaming down a larger glow than before. What was so distant and faint to her in the beginning was now a captivating sight that she couldn’t tear herself away from. She was determined to have her wish fulfilled. She was close to finally having a friend.
The feeling only grew stronger the closer she grew to the light. The eyes that were glaring at her felt as if they were piercing into her skin, clawing into her very core. The deep blue was a vibrant blue, but it felt like the darkest it had ever been for the guppy. She felt as if she was surrounded by invisible predators, watching, and waiting for her to take the bait.
Yet the light continued to glow upon her, illuminating her figure as if it were a spotlight on her circus act.
It did not feel safe. Her heartbeat contributed to her instinctual fight or flight, wanting to jump out of her body; it’s sound consuming every ounce of her hearing. It felt like she was gasping for a breath rather than breathing, sporadic bubbles forming out of her with each breath. She thought that she had adapted well to the outside conditions. It was all for naught with how rough the sea was treating her. It was too much for her, yet she was still so close. So close to reaching the light.
The treatment did not falter. Her body trembled as her mind started to cloud. The staring felt too intense. She felt surrounded; alone in the unknown amongst a sea of predators ready to eat her alive. She didn’t want that. All she wanted was a friend, but now she wanted to escape. The feeling and need to get away from the rough beatings of the waters grew prominent; to get away from the confrontation.
She couldn’t cope with it.
But there was a way to escape from it all.
Like the many others who had attempted to seek this legend before her.
To sink.
Giving up the weight of her body, she halted her movements, idly floating just like the time she had left the safety of her home. Her eyes were worn and sullen, her tail numb and tired from the venture. Like a weighted rock plunged into the ocean, she sunk herself back down into the depths of the deep. The shadows and the feeling of an audience slowly faded as she was pulled down, leaving her in the blissful silence.
The glowing light of the surface grew into nothing but a speck, just like her significance in the world. She did not know how far she had delved into the depths of the abyss. The blue of the seas was darker than what she was used to.
But maybe she can find a likeminded friend down here, in the solace of her loneliness.
Lara Senior is an aspiring artist and writer who focuses on the perspective of various characters that inhibit her story world. With a whole interconnected universe stashed within the confines of her mind, her stories tackle two extremes; the lighthearted slice of life to the depths of mental health.
