"Goodbye, little Shelly."

The two-legged-thing straightened it's hand, lowering me to the sand. The other two-legged-thing had called it 'Ness'.

It looked sad. 

Maybe because it had no shell.

 I was sad too. 

I longed to speak to it, tell it that having no shell wasn't that bad.

But, I would be lying.

They were gone now, anyway. Both the two-legged-things were gone.

 They stood, watching me as I ambled towards the sea, before the taller two-legged-thing rubbed it's face to the other's head, and they walked away.

 A strange mating-ritual, I thought. Very strange indeed.

I squeak, as a foot lands uncomfortably close to my face.

A scream.

Honestly, you would think  they've never seen a shell-less crab before.

I stop. 

They probably haven't.

Perhaps I could find a shell. Then, the two-legged-things wouldn't be so scared.

A small voice decides to make itself known.

"Ness wasn't scared."

Oh hush, Strange-Voice.

One two-legged-thing hardly matters.

Strange-Voice is not deterred.

"The ocean is made up of many water-drops. Each one counts."

I twitch.

Strange-Voice is obviously very smart.

"Do you have a shell, Strange-Voice?"

A squeaky snort.

"I am you, Shelly."

That makes sense, doesn't it?

Not really, but I crab-nod anyway.

Now, to find a shell.

I scuttle to the left, teetering to stop before a hard object.

That looks roomy.

Strange-Voice pipes up again.

"It's far too big, Shelly."

Well, I suppose.

Always best to leave growing-room, though.

Strange-Voice emits a noise of disapproval.

I sigh (as much as a crab can sigh), scurrying to the right, towards another strange lump.

Perfect. Colorful, too.

I reach forwards with a claw, flinching away as the mystery-material bends to my touch.

Maybe not.

"I don't think we need a shell, Shelly." 

I scoff.

"Of course, we do, Strange-Voice."

Strange-Voice tries again.

"We don't. I like not having a shell."

I decide to be the bigger crab and ignore Strange-Voice.

It's not like Strange-Voice understands what it feels like to be a shell-less shellfish, anyway.

"I do though, Shelly."

Whatever.

The two-legged-thing said plastic did this to me.

Is plastic another sea-creature?

A fish, perhaps.

Or a shark. I've never liked sharks.

"The two-legged-things make it, Shelly."

Oh. 

"Do they use it to make shells for themselves, Strange-Voice?"

Maybe that's why they stole my shell.

"I don't think so, Shelly."

"Then why did they take my shell?"

"I don't know."

Maybe my shell was so beautiful, the two-legged-things wanted it for themselves.

"Maybe.", Strange-Voice echoes.

I move my face, attempting to recreate the look of happiness I had seen on the two-legged-thing's face, when it picked me up,

Imagine that. 

I stare at the sea.

Maybe I don't need a shell.

"You don't, Shelly. I think you're perfect."

"Thank you, Strange-Voice."

Yes, I definitely don't need a shell. 'Ness' didn't think so.

I edge forwards, picking through the wet sand.

Who knew one two-legged-thing could mean so much?"

Stepping  into the waves, I glance back, one last time.

"Thank you, Ness."