a short story

written by bellflowers_

Plastic.

They hadn't tried hard enough. They hadn't been brought together like we all so hoped – the government only went down from there. It was an utter and absolute wreck and visitations to the beach weren't a thing; people often wandered off into their houses or to the streets in the name of a holiday. No jet skiing. No riverafting. No snorkeling; the fish didn't greet them up there anymore.

It was quiet, of course, and the kids would have never seen the fish in the aquariums they so adored – reverting to squelching impatience instead as they waited for their meals in those restaurants that used to hold the tropical variety above the countertop.

They'd been digesting the plastic people cared so little for; it'd made its sly and humanely ignorant way into their diets.

And so every little fish had plastic infiltrating it's lungs. It was in their bodies – surely it was in ours too.

The garbage patch was overfilled and the sea was packeted; straws that found their ways to harm those turtles: net that caught itself around birds necks; bottles that stopped you from peering to the sea bed.

Land was no different to sea; everywhere you looked there was a plastic bag caught in a tree and a can rolling against the gravel – clinking lightly with the winds that screeched for turbulently rendered dismay.

2050 and chaos was struck. It took only the end for them all to realise how much of an impact it was having on the world.

Plastic.

And if only they'd stopped using so much.

· use a fabric bag ( a tote, mesh, etc. ) this prevents the need to collect plastic bags – although if you already have them, be sure to use them repeatedly.

· if you don't want to stop using straws, paper is a good alternative to recycle and metal is a good recyclable.

· get a reusable water bottle to prevent the constant purchase of plastic bottles.