The Oyster

(Written almost two weeks ago)

The little oyster decided to put an end to its isolation. It wanted to start opening up its shell. Cautiously she starts doing so, deciding this should take place only small steps at a time. Taking things gradually has been the safest way she had learnt. She starts peeping from the small opening in her shell to the vast ocean in amazement. How could she keep herself away from all that beauty for so long, she wondered! She was glad she had taken that step, yet sticking to her decision; only one step at a time.

Suddenly a strong wave struck the little oyster at a time when she least expected it. Her shell was hard enough to handle that kind of strong waves and keep the soft thing protected. But this time, it was not as sealed as it used to be. It had that small opening, the oyster had caused with its own hand which made the shell too weak to resist. The wave sprang the shell wide open. The oyster found such powerful currnts of water rushing in. Water is life, but it can bring death just as well. A beginning and an end it could be. She stands there, not knowing what to do, not knowing how to deal with all the new things that have invaded its soft fragile private space.