My feet sunk into the soft sand.The waves called to me.“Come play,” they said,“within my water so that I canhear your laughter.”The water washed up on the yellow sand,trying to reach me.The breeze rustled in my hairand the only sound I could hearwas the love that the seagulls shared that morning.In the distance, the waterlooked as pretty as a pearl.Just as I was about to turn back,something sparkling came out of the sand.At first, it looked like a shell.Then it became more.It was a precious turtle,small and helpless.Suddenly, crabs and seagullscrowded around the turtle.Breakfast was what they saw.“Stop!” I shouted.I walked over to where the turtle hid and I guarded it.Slowly, I walked with it,imagining our conversation as we sauntered to the sea.Then, the turtle stumbledover a shell the color of my mother’s eyes.Finally, it made it to the sea.I picked up the shell,for it would be my memory.