True Treasure
The dolphin swam beneath the floating object, expertly catching it against its fin once again with a quick, practiced nudge. But in those few seconds while the object had floated freely in the clear water, Sheryl had leaned in close. The illusion vanished in a heartbeat, replaced by a wave of gentle laughter that rippled through her dive mask. It was not a bar of pirate gold, nor an ancient artifact from a sunken Spanish galleon!
It was a large, golden-yellow autumn leaf. The leaf must have fallen into the sea from a tree along the coast, drifting out into the deep blue lagoon. The salt water had preserved its bright, vibrant color, and the tropical sun had turned it into a glowing piece of fake treasure. From a distance, its natural, brilliant yellow had looked exactly like twenty-four-karat gold. The dolphin wasn’t guarding ancient wealth; it was just playing with a beautiful piece of the world above.