Three Dead Animals That Led Me To Love

When you know, you know.

Photo by Shane Stagner on Unsplash

I have only shot and killed one animal in my life. I was forty feet underwater, kicking my way through a magnificent kelp forest with a borrowed spearfishing gun propped on my shoulder. I didn’t know if I would pull the trigger, but when a silky smooth kelp bass came into view, I gave a slight twitch and saw the fish jump imperceptibly as the spear pierced its throat.