To the Animal With Three Hearts and the Silent Judgement

A beautiful creature sifting along the ocean floor, questioning every move I make as I swim near him. He comes towards me in curiosity, In wonder, so shy, questioning himself why he is starting to approach me. One of the smartest creatures in the sea, he continues to seek wonder, hope, perseverance, and trust, all because of curiosity. Every day, we choose to do something out of spite, fear, joy, and even sadness, all because of one thing. Wonder. I saw the one thing I chose to get to see: what wonder can feel like, its Actions and outcomes may be, just for fun, or even for the sake of asking. But today, I chose to see this beautiful eight-legged, three-hearted creature, and his amazing silent sense of judgment. I truly saw the wonder staring right back at me. - Inspired by the octopus essay in World of Wonders by Aimee Nezhukumatathil