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Clear, gelatinous, flattened spheres littered

the beach around me. They appeared

invisible to the unaware eye of people strolling

along the seaside. I had to step carefully around the

numerous carcasses of jellyfish. My lover

lead me by the hand through the carnage. I was

tempted to touch the first one I saw, but he had stopped

me. He explained the tentacles can still sting even if

the jellyfish is dead. I stared at their bodies for far

too long as I noted the faintest hints of organs

and other body parts of a jellyfish. I had never

seen one in real life, and I still felt as if

I was looking at a pale imitation of it.