Goldfish in the Deep End

Maya's cousin Jace had won her at the carnival ring toss — a literal goldfish in a plastic bag, swimming in tiny frantic circles like Maya's anxiety. Now they were at the neighborhood pool party, and the bag sat on the picnic table while Maya sat on the edge, legs dangling in the water, fully clothed.

"Yo, are you gonna swim or just hydrate your feet?" Trevor called from the deep end, doing a cannonade that splashed half the party. Everyone laughed. Maya flushed, palms sweating against her thighs. She hadn't even brought a swimsuit, but now she regretted it.

"She's shy," Chloe said, floating nearby with her perfect hair and waterproof mascara. "Hey, want me to read your palm? I learned from YouTube."

Maya pulled her hands into her lap. "I'm good."

The goldfish — she'd named it Toast — kept swimming into the corners of its bag. Could fish even get claustrophobic? Maya felt like she was breathing through a straw.

"That fish is gonna die in that bag," someone said.

"That's so dark, Jen," Chloe rolled her eyes.

Maya stood up, bag in hand. She marched to the pool edge and tipped Toast into the water. The goldfish froze, then darted toward the deep end.

"What are you DOING?" Trevor shouted. "That's a PET fish, it can't survive in pool water! The chemicals will kill it!"

"Free it or kill it?" Maya shot back, surprising herself. "What's the difference?"

But Toast was fine. In fact, Toast was thriving, swimming alongside them like it had been born for chlorinated freedom. Everyone gathered around, watching this tiny orange fish living its best life.

"No way," Chloe whispered. "That's actually iconic."

"Your fish is built different," Trevor said, impressed. "Like, actually legendary."

Maya looked at Toast, then at her phone where her lock screen showed her Taurus horoscope from this morning: "Today calls for bold moves. Don't overthink it."

The bull energy. Stubborn, fierce, ready to charge.

Maya kicked off her sneakers. "Whatever." She jumped in, clothes and all.

The water shocked her cold, then felt amazing. She surfaced to find everyone cheering, even Chloe. Toast swam circles around her ankle like a tiny orange guardian.

"Okay but," Jace said later as they walked home, Toast now in a proper bowl, "you're definitely keeping that fish now. It's practically famous."

Maya smiled, her phone buzzing with new contacts. "Yeah. I think I will."