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Prompt 9
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Username: .River.
Write your coral a goodbye letter!
Dearest Milo, it's been a joy watching you grow. I have love every minute of it. You've grown into a beautiful coral, and I loved seeing it. I have been able to imagine all the things you like to do, and who you are. I have had so much fun doing so. Through you, I have been itched to research more about coral reefs and other sea creatures. I have learned so much of what I paid so little attention to. I am now inspired to advocate to help save the coral reefs. Every day you've grown into such a beautiful coral, and i feel so lucky to have been able to watch you grow. I imagine already in the ocean, you will thrive. You have been one of the greatest joys of staying at the resort. Each and every day I was excited to learn more about you. I know your just but a coral, but to me your special. Each day I grew to care more for you. I hate to say goodbye, but I am so proud of you Milo, you've grown into a strong coral. I picture you doing many things. You have helped teach me things I never realized I took oh so for granted. It's really been an experience j greatly looked forward to, especially on days that didn't go well in my life. It's brought such fun to watch you grow Milo and I wish you all the best. It feels like your part of my family, and I have loved watching you. I have grown very attached, and it feels like a parent wishing their child off into their own life. I really am sorrowed to say goodbye, but it's been such an incredible time. I want you to go live your best life, and do well for yourself. I know your plenty capable, and I am amazed by all you can do. Your such a sweet coral, and I love you so so much. You get to live in a beautiful place, a real nice home for you. Staying with me never would have given you the chance to learn and grow as much as you are capable of. You can and will do great things. Your like my child, and I love you a lot. I want you to remember all the great things you've done and experiencced so far, remember Enke, as he may have acted careless, but somewhere in my mind I think he truly did care. I hope you'll remember me, as I will surely always remember you. At first when I agreed to do this, I didn't know what I was getting myself into, and considered stopping. But I am more than glad I didnt. You do well ok? You save the oceans, they need you more than I do. Milo, do your best my dear, I know you'll do great things. You've brought a joy into my life I cannot explain nor express. It hurts a lot to say goodbye, as you are like my a child to me, but I know it's for the better. Thank you Milo, you've taught me so much, farewell.
-Your Loving Parent

A Note To Hound: Thank you for your work on this event. Reef Rescue has been one of my favorite booths, and I loved each day to see my coral grow and work on my prompts. The artwork has been stunning, and I have fallen in love with the beauty of it. Milo will always be dear to me and I thank you greatly for an experience that has brought me such joy each day.

[cautiousculpeo]

Prompt 9
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Username: cautiousculpeo
Write your coral a goodbye letter!

Arati sniffled as the Bull mentioned towards a pen and pad of paper, she had to write her tiny coral their final farewell. She looked down at the tank she created eight days prior and sighed.

My Dearest, Aurelie

I am sorry i have to go so early, i am sorry i have to leave you now.
You have made my life happy these few days, and in fact given me a purpose on this whole trip. You have showed me a greater purpose in how i can help the environment for all of the future generations.
I am so sorry that i could not make you grow larger in this small time frame, i am sorry you are so small in comparison to your other coral family. I hope that you and Gloss can live together happily in the ocean and create a whole reef of new corals.
I promise i will come back every year to check up on you, i cant wait to see how big and strong you can get!

Your favourite cow,
Arati

She put the pen down and sat back in her chair, loosly folding it before setting it beside the tank. She picked it up, slowly reading the words of her letter as she walked to the beach, letting the waves trickle over her hooves she bent down beside the existing reef, gently picking up the little fish Gloss, she placed him back into the ocean, he swirled around her ankles as she placed Aurelie down on a stretch of rock.

"Goodbye" She waved, slowly backing away

[case]

Prompt 9
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Username: Case
Write your coral a goodbye letter!:

Cecelia smiled sadly as she looked at Wilson. “I am going to miss you, little buddy. We had a lot of fun here at the resort, but it is time for me to let you go on to bigger and better things.” She gently carried his tank around the resort one last time. “I am definitely going to miss going to sleep and waking up next to you.” A tear fell from her eye, splashing down into Wilson’s tank. “I hope you had just as much fun as I did. I know I can be a pain sometimes. I am looking forward to you being with all your friends, though!” She lifted the tank and pressed her lips against the glass. I want what is the best for you— and we knew this was going to happen in the end! This was never going to be a permanent thing.” She finally reached Enke’s booth, which signaled that her time with Wilson was coming to a close. “If you ever miss me, though, just remember that I am under the same sky that you are. Every night I will be looking at the same stars that you will be looking at too.” Cecelia silently glared at Enke, knowing that he probably thought she was crazy for crying and kissing Wilson’s tank. “This is not a goodbye, Wilson. It is just a see you later. I can always get my scuba diving license! Don’t doubt me!” She laughed and finally handed Wilson over. “Thank you for teaching me how to be a better person. Thank you for giving me a chance. I hope you will remember our time together fondly.” She sighed gently and turned away, walking off. She knew if she looked back at Wilson, she would probably go running back. Cecelia finally turned around when she was far away enough that she knew she would not go back for him. She stared at the setting sun and the ocean for one last time, grinning as she did so. “I will see you later.”

[womp womp]

Prompt 9
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Username: diamond sapphire
Write your coral a goodbye letter!

bluebell mooed in despair as she approached chera's tank. she knew that she would have to let heuchera go back in the wild one day, but what she didn't realize was how much of an attachment she had towards the coral, and how hard it would be to say goodbye. she wasn't quite able to say goodbye well enough through her uncontrollable sobs, or at least what a cow could call a sob, so bluebell had written chera a letter, stating what she would've loved to say if she wasn't so upset.
xxxxbluebell glanced one that time at her letter, and gingerly stuck it onto the front of chera's tank. the letter was neatly put into an envelope, a piece of red wax sealing it. the wax had a lopsided picture of a coral planted in it, as bluebell tried her best to make a stamp for the wax herself, but clearly it didn't turn out right.
with a heavy sigh, bluebell sauntered off.



dear heuchera,

i know you can't read, but i guess that's a good thing. you probably don't want to spend your last minutes reading this, after all. anyways, i just wanted to thank you for being such a nice coral, if that makes sense? you can't really talk or anything, but i guess thank you for just... living? i suppose? i really appreciate how you managed to open my eyes on your situation, and i really hope your release goes well. thank you for everything, chera.

from sincerely farewell from yours truly uuuh??
with all my love, bluebell.

[paopu]

Prompt 9
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Username: paopu
Write your coral a goodbye letter!
Well dear Spooks, it has been a journey. It feels like far longer than the few days it has been and it's hard to imagine my life without you in it. You may have been a real pain at times, but you've taught me patience I never knew I had. Make sure you're nice to whomever you end up with next. And no, I don't mean nice nice but your particularly annoying brand if nice. Keep people on their toes, but be careful not to make them worry too much. Its stressful darling and I know that's hard for you to understand but it's important. Take care of yourself you silly little guy.

[mars]

Prompt 9
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Username: ➳ palla
Write your coral a goodbye letter!:

Pippin • Eirwen • Catherine

 The three girls stood in a row on the wet sand, holding hands tightly as they watched a specialized team take the corals out of their tanks to move them to their permanent homes on the ocean floor. Pippin clutched her stuffed coral in her free arm, holding it close to her heart as she waited in solemn anticipation for them to get to Cni's tank, the one covered in the stickers she had placed there only a few days before. Cni had grown so quickly that their time together hadn't been long. Was it love that made their coral bloom so fast? Pippin knew that 'bloom' wasn't exactly the right term, but Cni reminded her of a delicate, blue and pink flower so she thought it was more fitting than anything else could ever be. Cni had been beautiful.

 The young girl wished more than anything that they could have been together for longer, even forever, but they had agreed from the start to return Cni to the ocean. This was their job, their duty. They couldn't take their promise back. All three felt tears tugging at their eyes as they stood there at the release site near the pier, but they choked them back, smiling sadly instead. They knew Cni was going to go into the edge of the reef where the coral had previously disappeared, helping to save the reef from total loss. This was supposed to be a good thing, so why were they all so sad?

 It wasn't long until it was Cni's turn. Wearing special gloves and snorkeling gear, a man reached into the tank which was submerged in the salty water now. Pulling Cni away from the nearby rocks and the fake glass coral placed inside, he moved it out of the tank and deeper into the ocean where he would fasten it to the ocean floor, far out of the girls' view.

 As soon as Cni was gone, Pippin broke down in tears, unable to hold them back any longer. Seeing her best friend cry, Eirwen succumbed as well and immediately let go of the others' hands to hug her tightly. Catherine was the only one standing strong, but she had been gone for a majority of the trip so she wasn't nearly as attached as the other two were. Yet she still wrapped her arms around both girls, understanding their pain. She would be sad, too, and just seeing them so sad was making her eyes start to tear up as well.

 Eventually, Eirwen got her glass coral back and they were able to go home. Enke had taken the tank back to the lab, rather displeased when he saw the stickers covering it. Did that count as damage to the center's property, something mentioned within the handbook the girls had received? He thought it did, but he decided to let it go after seeing how upset the girls were. Well, for now, at least. He'd talk to Catherine about it later.

 The ride home was somber and quiet, filled with an empty sadness. When they reached home, Catherine went to the door first to unlock it while the other two - both tired and with red, puffy eyes from crying for so long - slowly made their way out of the car and up to the door. Catherine couldn't help but feel sorry for them both. Pippin hadn't released her grip on the stuffed coral and Eirwen couldn't handle seeing her friend so upset.
 "Hey, Pippin?" Catherine asked, trying to sound cheerful. Pippin looked up, but didn't say anything in response. "Why don't you write a letter to Cni? I'll have Enke deliver it for you." The younger girl nodded, still looking sullen as she went to her room to grab some construction paper. Writing to Cni might cheer her up a little so it was worth a try. Taking her favorite pencil in her dominant hand, she began to scribble some words on the page.

Dear Cni,

I miss you very much already and you haven't even been gone for a whole day yet. How is the ocean? Is the reef okay? I hope you'll get your own school of fish to watch over like in the movies, and I hope the water stays warm, but not too hot since I heard that can be bad for you. The weather should be nice for the next week so you can acclimate, but after that, I think we're getting storms so please stay safe. I wish you could take shelter somehow.

Catherine said that Enke would deliver this message to you. He's very kind so try to be polite. Do you remember him? He took care of you when you were just a baby.

I'm going to go eat dinner now, but I promise that I'll learn how to swim so I can come visit you and read you stories. Don't worry, though - I won't touch you. I'll keep a safe distance so you stay okay.

Goodbye, Cni. I love you lots and lots.

- Pippin

 Folding the letter up, Pippin sealed it with a sticker before taking it to Catherine.

 The next day, Catherine met with Enke.
 "I have an urgent favor to ask you," she began, watching as his eyebrows raised in suspicion. "I need you to take this letter out to the reef and read it above the water."
 "What for? And what do I get out of this?" He responded blankly, confused at what she wanted and uninterested in getting sopping wet for absolutely nothing.
 "It's a letter to the coral. The girls need closure. You'll get 60 bucks and the gratification of knowing you helped them, plus you can use your paddle board so you won't get wet." Enke's eyebrows raised once more, this time with a bit of a smile.
 "Make it 75 and we've got a deal."
 "Fine. Just don't get the paper wet or you're a dead man." Catherine opened up her pocketbook, counting out the money and double-checking it before handing it to him. "Pippin and Eirwen are in the car waiting outside. Let's go."

 Enke hopped into the passenger seat, Catherine entering the driver's seat beside him with the two younger girls already sitting in the back. The ride was pretty awkward since Enke barely knew Pippin and Eirwen, but he had met Catherine through the environmental center many times in the past so it wasn't too bad. When they arrived, he quickly changed into his swim shorts in case he fell into the water before heading out with his paddle board, sitting in a chair attached on top with the letter sealed tightly in a Ziploc bag on his lap. Once at the reef, he opened it, scoffing to himself for a second at the girly handwriting before reading it out loud.

 "Dear...K...K......" He began, unsure how to pronounce the name.
 "It's pronounced snee!" Catherine shouted loudly from the shore.
 "Dear snee," Enke began again, saying the name in a slightly mocking voice before returning to a softer tone, "I miss you very much already..." He could feel his life draining away with every word that he read. It was disgustingly childish and sappy. But hey, 75 bucks was 75 bucks, and all he had to do was read a letter to the water. Easy, right? "...Catherine said that Enke would deliver this message to you. He's very kind so try to be polite. Do you remember him? He took care of you when you were just a baby..." What? What was this sweet garbage? It made him want to be sick, yet tugged at his heart a little. A little kid thought that he was kind? What?!

 Once Enke had finished reading out loud, he returned to shore, physically shuttering from how awful and cringy that had been. Pippin immediately ran up to him, giving him a big hug.
 "Thank you! Do you think Cni liked my letter?" she asked, looking up at him with massive eyes filled with excitement. Even though she was a teenager, she reminded Enke of a seven-year-old.
 "Uhh...yeah, sure. Cni loved it. She was absolutely dying to hear it." Catherine gave him a look that was both angry and smug, happy to torture him with Pippin for as long as she could, to which Enke glared back in response.
 "Pippin, why don't we get some ice cream?" Eirwen suggested. "And Enke, you can come along too!"
 "No tha-" Enke started, before Catherine cut him off.
 "What a lovely idea, Eirwen! Come on Enke, let's all get some ice cream."

[SaltyBirb]

Prompt 9
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Username: SaltyBirb
Write your coral a goodbye letter!

As the sun set on the final day it was time to finally release Surya's coral, "Tu". It was just a few days when Surya adopted the tiny coral and now, it was finally time to say goodbye to it. It was a hard for her since she was quite attached to it but she had no choice and it was for the best. As the time grew closer for the corals release, Surya went towards her work table, took a stationary and pen from her shelf and carefully made a simple letter for it to give her last goodbyes to her beloved "Tu".

My dear little Tu,
Who's actually not so little anymore! I'm quite surprised and proud by how much you've grown, you've gotten so big and pretty that I can't help but be mesmerized by you. It aches my heart to say goodbye, to set you off to your own adventures and journey to the vast seas. I've taken care of you for a few days and I've already grown so attached to you, it felt so unreal. Good luck with all the adventures you'll do and even if it's such a small chance, I hope that we will meet again! Take care and goodbye!

[Zeca17]

Prompt 9
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Username: Zeca17
Write your coral a goodbye letter!

Bluebell looked down at the tiny coral, she had only owned her for a few days but still, she felt the leickle of tears at her eyes as she shut them tightly. She did not know whether she would see the coral again, and so tonight she said her final goodbyes.

“Goodbye my darling friend, I have loved watching you grow and learning more about you. You have been my friend in the darkest of times, for this I thank you from the bottom of my heart. Though now, you may go home, you may head back out into the wide open ocean. I love you..”

Sniffing, tears poured down her cheeks, dripping off of her chin and onto the coral. Smiling weakly, her eyes still brimmed with tears as she placed the tiny coral into the deep blue ocean and watched it get swept away with the tide.

[sprig]

Prompt 9
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Username: sprig
Write your coral a goodbye letter!
Penelope woke to Enke gently shaking her. "Today's the day," he murmured. Penny's heart dropped. Today was the day they were going to release Theodosia. She had grown so much healthier, and Enke felt she would do well in the wild. "I-I don't want to," Penelope whispered, a knot twisted itself in her throat, and she fought back tears. For the first time since Penelope had uninvitedly moved in, Enke's voice was gentle, and his voice was calm. "It's what is best for her," he whispered softly. "She will remember you, I know she will, and she will always be grateful for how much you cared for her, and how you saved her from that dark place in the dying coral forest." Penelope couldn't hold her tears back any longer, and she burst into sobs of grief. Enke patted her head. "Why don't you come over to the table, and write her a little good bye letter. I'll read it out loud to her before I dive out to put her in the new coral bed." Penny nodded, tears still streaming down her face as she sat down at the table next to Theodosia's brightly decorated tank.



" Dear Theodosia,
When I found you, I didn't expect to build such a strong bond with you. You were all alone in that dying coral reef and I felt a tug at my hear to bring you here to Enke, but I didn't know that I would have the opportunity to stay here with you and to take care of you. I don't like good byes, so I don't want to get caught up in all of that stuff. But please know that I love you, and I will always remember you for the rest of my days because you made such a lasting impact on me. Please be safe, I hope that your new home is a healthy, long-lasting coral reef where you can thrive and grow. That's all.
Good bye Theodosia.
Love, Penny "



Penelope folded up her letter and handed it (tear stains and all) to Enke. She turned to Theodosia and took one last look, before walking towards the door. "I'll come back later for my stuff if that's ok... I need to go for a walk." she walked out the door without another word. As soon as it shut behind her, tears streamed down her cheeks silently. Her heart had never felt this heavy, that feeling like its going to drop to your toes and jump out your throat at the same time. She took a last look back at Enke's house from the shoreline. He was loading his supplies to go out on the boat and release all of the corals and fish he had been nursing. She watched as he carefully loaded a small jar, and she could faintly see a little label on the side. "Good bye, friend." She whispered under her breath, before making the heavy walk homeward.

[vanilla bean.]

Prompt 9
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Username: vanilla bean.
Write your coral a goodbye letter!

Oh, my sweet little gift! Ha’awina Nua, you will be so missed. I know you cannot read (obviously), but my reason for bidding you goodbye is noble, I promise. I knew that you would be returned to the ocean when fully grown, but I simply can't let that happen entirely. I've contacted the local ocean conservatory and they've agreed to carefully remove a piece of you and start this wonderful growing process all over again! Not only will you be safe from the toxic waters but you'll be helping to preserve species that may be dying out! I realize that this is quite bittersweet, but they assured that I'd be able to visit whenever I liked, which is quite honestly, very comforting. The rest of you will be planted in the ocean though, along with the others grown here along this trip in a gorgeous blooming reef. I look forward to seeing you in your natural state, and hope that I provided for you well enough. Be strong, and know that I love you.

Until we meet again,
Cassidy <3

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