Unexpected treasure

It was dark, for the moon had not risen. Our lone tent was on the shore, next to the pile of conch shells, under the big tree, nearby a long wooden fishing boat. The sand was made of many tiny rocks, smooth underfoot. The air was a touch cooler than its usual sticky hot, but here it was especially comfortable because it was the tiniest bit less humid. The stars were bright.

The water was as still and warm and smooth as in a bath tub. Walking out into the water slowly, then we saw a little bitty green light in the water and walked slowly toward it, getting deeper. A short, glowing phosphorescent line of brightness. A shine of the headlamp revealed crystal clear water to the ocean floor, and a two-inch long small fish at the top.

Moving a little deeper revealed a beautiful thing of nature. One spark, was that a spark? Two, ten, ... fifty! Moving our hands through the water let loose bursts of tiny lights, going away as quickly as they came, but lasting just long enough so that your hand would leave a slight trail of lights in its path. Like the path of a tiny comet. Light coming alive just for an instant to bring joy and mystery, and disappearing as quickly as it came. Dancing under water in circles, I left a stream of bubbles and light. It was our beautiful and unexpected treasure.