I tread through the waves,
and wade toward deeper water.

And then—
I find one.
I relax as I stroke its soft, silky,
smooth skin.

As I look around, I see my brothers
have found their own stingrays, their own
new friends.

My stingray flaps her fins,
like wings,
and stares up at me with her
dark, milky brown eyes.
Sammy, my stingray friend,
lets me pet
her until I am ready to go.

As I wade away,
the water rushes
through my feet and sand oozes
from my toes.

This stingray was created
in God’s image.
This is amazing.
My new friend,
Sammy, was meant to be.