My name is Hannah Madden and I have Asperger’s Syndrome. Because of that, relating to other people can be a little tricky, so growing up I read books and watched films to understand how people thought and how those thoughts related to their actions and who they were. Stories have also been a tool which I have used to better understand myself. Through stories, whether I’m writing them or reading them, I have found and explored characters who are similar to me and/or are struggling with the same things I am. Reading and writing is how I figure out what’s upsetting me, how I rationalise my feelings and it has helped me feel a little less alone.

The Voice of The Ocean

The first time Marina’s parents took her to the beach, she discovered that she’d been born with a very special gift – whenever she dived under the water, she could hear the voices of all the creatures of the sea and talk to them beneath the waves. As a child, she loved hearing all the stories of the fish and the sharks and the turtles and the octopi.

But as Marina grew older, she noticed the stories growing sadder. Tales from the fish about the bustling coral cities became tales about how fish were losing their coral homes and their shoals were growing smaller. Tales from the octopi about their clever tricks became tales about the plastic and other rubbish they saw float by. Tales from the turtles about their great journeys became tales of the boats that hurt them when they got too close and the plastic they swallowed by mistake. And tales from the sharks about their hunts became tales their friends getting caught and killed in fisherman’s nets, even though the fishmen often didn’t want to catch them in the first place. There were many different stories, but all had one thing in common – the harm caused was always, in some way or another, being caused by humans.

In the end, the sadness of these stories became too much for Marina. Not wanting to hear any more, she ran away from the sea and tried to forget all of those terrible, terrible stories.

However, a part of her did come to miss the creatures of the sea. So, when she grew up, Marina decided to take a job in an aquarium. There, she spent her days caring for animals who had never known the ocean and were content with not knowing it. And Marina listened to their stories. They weren’t quite as exciting as the stories from the wild ocean, but at least there was no sadness in them.

For a while, Marina was content. But one day, a new animal arrived in the aquarium – a great spotted eagle ray with wings that seemed to gently embrace the entire tank. In all her years swimming in the ocean, Marina had never seen such a magnificent animal. But as she watched the ray from outside the tank, she began to feel as though something was wrong. No matter what, the ray always stayed at the edge of the tank, as if she was trying to find a way out. And when Marina caught its eye, she couldn’t help but notice the sadness that lay within it.

After a while, curiosity got the better of her. Late one night after everyone else had left, she snuck into the ray’s tank. Upon seeing her, the ray immediately swam backwards, studying her with suspicion and fear. But Marina remained calm and called upon her gift.

“Great ray,” she said gently, “why do you always look so sad?”

The ray was stunned.

“You can speak in the voice of the ocean?”

“My name is Marina.” Marina continued, “I’ve been able to speak in the ocean’s voice since I was a child. And I want to know why you seem so sad when I see you in the tank. None of the other fish here do.”

“That’s because they were born inside these glass walls. They don’t know the vastness and harsh freedom of the ocean.”

Marina blinked, completely startled. What was a creature born in the ocean doing here of all places?

“My friends call me Carlita.” the ray continued, “My family has reigned the seas far longer than humans have been around. And yet humans are the reason so many of my kind are caught in nets created by men hunting for different fish. They fill the water with their objects that choke and poison those that eat them and destroy our homes. Despite my best efforts and the efforts of my friends, there has been little we have been able to do to stop this tide of destruction. To make matters worse, a group of humans decided to capture me and bring me here so I could be displayed like an ornament in this glass box. I must return to the sea as soon as possible, but I have no way to get out of here. Human, why do your kind do such terrible things to us? Do you not understand the harm they’re causing the creatures of the sea?”

Marina simply hung her head.

“I think that most people either don’t understand or don’t want to listen,” she said sadly, “Growing up, I heard many sad stories just like yours until I couldn’t stand it anymore. So I came here to escape the ocean’s sadness. And yet here you are, a ray who knows all the terrible things humans have done to the sea and are continuing to do without sparing a thought for any of you. It makes me wonder why you would want to go back.”

Carlita seemed almost offended by this remark.

“I wish to go back because it is my home!” she said, “I will not abandon it simply because humans are causing sad things to happen. In fact, it makes me all the more determined to protect it.”

“But how?” Marina asked, “How can you, a single ray, protect the ocean and everyone that lives there from all the harm humans are causing.”

“I do not know,” the ray said honestly, “but if I do nothing, then what will happen?”

Marina paused to consider the question. And as she looked at the array of tanks surrounding her, an answer began to form in her mind.

“You’ll disappear, one by one.” she said slowly, “There will be no more rays or turtles or shoals of fish. The coral cities will become ghost towns, and each wave will carry just as much plastic as water. If no one does anything, the ocean will end up becoming so empty, and all the former creatures of the sea will only exist in tanks like these. And that… that story would be the saddest of them all.”

“I agree.” said Carlita, “Perhaps if the world could hear the voice of the ocean like you can, humans would do more to look after it. And maybe if I could tell the people here that I don’t belong in this tank, they would set me free.”

Suddenly, an idea popped into Marina’s head.

“Perhaps there is a way to do both things.” she said, “I do know of people who can help you return to the ocean, so that part shouldn’t be too hard. But to make sure the ocean’s voice is heard by the world, I’m going to need your help.”

“Oh? What is your plan?”

The two discussed what they would do until morning came. Once their plan was settled, Marina climbed out of the tank and told the police all about how Carlita had been taken from the sea and sold to the aquarium. They made sure that Carlita was taken to an animal rescue facility, who took good care of her until she was ready to be released back into the ocean.

A few days after Carlita’s release, Marina went to the beach she’d visited so often as a child. As she dived beneath the waves, she heard the chatter she’d distanced herself from for so long. But she didn’t stop to listen to the stories this time. Instead, she swam all the way to the heart of the reef where, sure enough, Carlita was waiting for her.

“Thank goodness.” Carlita said with a smile, “I was beginning to think you weren’t coming.”

“Did you think I would simply run?” asked Marina.

“Well, it wouldn’t be the first time you’ve done so.”

“I can’t deny that.” Marina said, “But if the story of the ocean is ever going to have a happy ending, then turning away isn’t an option. People need to hear as many of its stories as possible so that they can learn to live in harmony with the creatures of the sea. And together, we will be its voice. You can swim far out into its depths and gather all kinds of stories that you can pass onto me.”

“And you will take the stories I have gathered and pass them on to the humans on the surface so that they can better understand the ocean.” finished Carlita, “It’s a fine plan, but I can’t help but wonder how long it will be before our message is heard by all the humans.”

“I have no idea. But if you don’t give up, then I promise that I won’t either. We’ll keep telling all the tales of the ocean, and we’ll do it for however long it takes.”

That was many years ago. Marina and Carlita are still telling stories to any human who cares to listen.

Are you listening?