A Captive Orca Reflects

A Captive Orca Reflects


Well, I guess there could be a better life. Without walls. Without hard, grey stone barriers. Without loud noise. Without routine. Without boredom. Without faces watching your every move.

I guess there could be a better life. With rushing water. With cool ocean waves. With wild animals. With living fish. With family. With a reason to speak. With freedom.

I guess there's more to life than swimming in circles, than breaching on command, than hauling yourself out onto slippery platforms, than eating frozen fish, than living in confinement. I guess. I don't know. I wouldn't know. But I can feel it. I can feel there's something prodding at my heart to swim free. It's sometimes hard. I get through each day, though, 'cause I know that this is my life and it's not going to improve.

I'm intelligent. I'm very intelligent. I have feelings. I've lots of feelings. I've got family. I've got friends. I've got wants and needs and desires. I like to play. I like to rest. I'm an Orca, but I'm not just some  old performer here to entertain someone for the day. Too bad that's what many people think of me...

I guess there's a better life.

I know there's a better life.

But I don't want to guess.

But I don't want to know.

Why?


Because I'll never have it.