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not every creature.

there are plenty of creatures in the sea that cannot make a pearl. but there are the ones that do. where others become versed in camouflage, evolving into predator or prey, swimming alone and in great schools, there are those that sit quietly in the deep.

even if it takes all kinds, what does it even matter? it matters insofar as a grain of sand matters. if sand is just the ocean floor, fine. if it’s how the beach moves between your toes, fine. but when you’re an oyster, the grain of sand matters. random or not. all your effort goes into that reality. changing it until it changes you.

and no one knows. no one knows until the halves break open to reveal the pearl. the irritant that became jewelry. the pain that became purpose. the object of the deep sea diver or the culturist’s efforts. the story found you, you lived it, and now you can produce the treasure they seek.