Epilogue for Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?

The deucedly hot sun glared down on the sleepy town, tucked away in the desolate corner of America. The large, looming oaks were all too big for the settlement’s compacted population. The shade the trees provided served as relaxation points for the stray mongrels roaming the area deliriously, foaming at the mouth in the summer heat. The worn-out roads connecting one unpretentious neighborhood to another were, for the most part, unoccupied except for the rare occurrence of a Buggy or Hudson Hornet wheezing down the road. Just down the road was Tim’s Burger-and-Fries mini-raunt, a sort of play on a ‘restaurant’ by the local schoolboy called Timothy Carmine. Most of Charlie’s peers swung by there on Friday evenings such as the one in July 1972, the coolness of the air and the irrevocably “daringness” of going to the hottest spot in town lured them. Charlie, with her pin-straight brown hair and dull blue eyes, found herself strolling down the block in the opposite direction of Tim’s rip-off hot spot at precisely 9 pm with Lucy’s leash in one hand. She was an exceptionally remarkable dog. Her big brown eyes bore all the curiosity the world could offer. Her silky fur was Charlie’s favorite thing to sleep on, warmth always radiating from her pelt. Many commented on Lucy’s beauty, teasing that they should enter her in a dog show for extra change. The German Sheppard tugged on the leash relentlessly, throwing herself forward as if she had no other purpose in life but that. Charlie scoffed in response, her gaze tearing away from the charming fellow she’d made eye contact with moments before.

“Christ, Lucy! We ain’t goin’ anywhere crazy, just ’round the block.” Charlie scolded, yanking back on the leash with a newfound ferocity. Lucy shoved her face towards the ground and began sniffing repugnantly, her wide nostrils inhaling the crisp night air as she guided her owner towards the splintering fencing of a nearby estate. As if being commanded by the slight breeze passing through, Lucy sat down and tilted her head towards the direction of the house in front of them.

“Erm… OK. You’re a bizarre dog.” Charlie laughed uncertainty as she tugged Lucy’s leash, her gaze fixated on the house in front of them. Most residents of the uneventful town knew this house to be just another deserted residence that no one cared enough for to invest in. Charlie’s older sister, Betty, had been friends with the girl that had lived here before she took off eleven years ago. Her name was Connie, formally known as Constance. Run-aways in Charlie’s sleepy little town weren’t unusual. It happened often, and no one drew much concern to it.

“Did you know the Carmichael’s boy took off with that Pettishire girl?” Charlie’s mother said to her one morning while slicing cheese with her knife.

“No kidding! Jimmy and Alice?” Charlie had replied, taking a starved bite out of her apple as she settled down on the stool. It was forgotten about five minutes later.

Charlie recalled Betty being wistful whenever her childhood friend was brought up. Maybe the runaways weren’t always forgotten. “All right, Lucy, it’s time to go home!” She decided after a moment of synchronized staring at the house with her dog, flushing and hoping nobody had seen her snooping. What a stalker she’d make! Lucy let out a whimper of protest as she was pulled away from the house, looking at it with a certain longing in her eyes. Charlie, growing impatient, dropped the leash and threw her hands up. “All right, you dumb dog, what is it?” Lucy bolted towards the fence and through the open gate, howling madly. Home, home at last! thought Lucy as she did circles around the yard, absorbing the scenery. The overgrown, lush grass tickled her pelt as she went along. The smell of decaying wood flooded her canine senses, something she wasn’t used to smelling before. What had happened to this house in the years it’d been abandoned?

“Enough,” Charlie cried, running after Lucy and picking up the leash again. “You’ll draw attention, you old dog!” She hissed, directing them both back towards the sidewalk and down the block. Lucy’s ears flattened as she was taken away, padding beside her owner and watching the house disappear from view. When they got home and Charlie told her mother of the funny thing their dog did, they couldn’t have known Lucy, the normally unspirited and tired old hound, had been riled up by the fact she was coming home to the place she’d lived in twelve years ago with her sister, Jude. The place she’d lived in with her snobby mother, always comparing and contrasting her to the bore of a sibling she had. The place she’d lived in with her drunk father, always downing beers and wasting away into a shell of himself at work. The place she’d lived in when she’d been Constance, the beautiful girl with the untellable fate.

The butterfly effect has been fascinating to me since my youth; particularly as a little girl dreaming of a career as a renowned scientist. It has been subconsciously prevalent in my life in many different instances. Perhaps the most notable was the day I fell in love with the ocean, and how it led me to pursue a career in marine biology.

Growing up, the entirety of my family resided within Greece. I spent summers upon summers frolicking the countryside of Arcadia, befriending sea turtles, creating a clan of stray cats, and swimming with jellyfish. I spent nearly every day submerging myself, both physically and mentally, within the sea. I wouldn't leave it until my fingers pruned with the ocean's love and my skin was flushed cherry red with the sun's touch. My daily visits with the sea shaped my future forever, though I didn't know it yet.

My love for the ocean that I've been cultivating since I was a child has been a driving force in my adolescent and young adult life, shaping my values and career aspirations. It has instilled in me a deep appreciation for nature and a strong desire to protect and preserve our planet's precious ecosystems. The realization of the threats facing our oceans has fueled my passion for environmental conservation and sustainability.

My ultimate goal is to work directly with marine ecosystems, conducting research and finding solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on our oceans. Through scientific inquiry, I hope to contribute to our understanding of marine environments and develop strategies for their sustainable management.

However, my ambitions extend beyond research. I aspire to become an advocate for ocean conservation on a larger scale. I want to collaborate with organizations and policymakers to implement effective strategies for protecting our oceans and combating climate change. By influencing policy and raising awareness, I aim to make a significant impact in the field of marine conservation.

I dream of a world where future generations can experience the same awe and wonder that I feel when I dive into the depths of the ocean. The ocean has been my sanctuary, my inspiration, and my home. It has shaped my perspective on life and ignited a fire within me to make a positive impact. I am committed to dedicating my life to the conservation of our oceans and ensuring that they remain vibrant and thriving for generations to come.

Marine biology is not just a subject of study for me; it is a calling that drives me to learn and understand the intricacies of the ocean. The mystery and beauty of marine life, as well as the challenges faced by these ecosystems, excite and motivate me. I am drawn to explore the unknown, to unravel the secrets of the ocean, and to contribute to its preservation.

As the butterfly effect of my, at the time, thoughtless and ordinary visits to the ocean, I am eager to pursue a career in marine biology and environmental conservation, using my knowledge and skills to protect and preserve our oceans. It is my hope that through my work, I can inspire others to appreciate and protect the oceans, creating a sustainable future where humans and marine life can thrive together.

The ocean has given me so much, and I am determined to give back by dedicating my life to the conservation of our oceans and the pursuit of knowledge in marine biology. I am ready to embark on this journey and make a meaningful contribution to the preservation of our precious oceans.