The Boy And The Starfish And The Yawning Chasm Of Infinity by Caitlin Johnstone

The boy listened politely, then picked up another starfish and tossed it into the surf.

"Made a difference to that one," he said to the man.

"I mean that's a cute answer and all," said the man. "It would fit nicely in a Facebook meme shared by your religious aunty, or a motivational speech from the early nineties. But in the grand scheme of things you must surely understand that saving that one starfish is of no real significance? The tide will go out again tomorrow, and this beach will once again be lined with dying starfish just as it is now, among them quite likely our little friend you just rescued."

"What do you want me to say man?" the boy replied, his tone suddenly changing. "That there's some kind of eternally ordained metaphysical justification for my actions here on this beach today? That there's some absolute truth inscribed upon the fabric of reality from on high saying 'One saved starfish equals one Ultimate Meaningfulness?' On what basis are you premising your assumption that any actions have any meaning or purpose at all?"

"I- I- Well..." the man stammered.

The boy began to grow larger, and as he spoke his skin turned an otherworldly shade of blue.

Reading by Tim Foley.