The Floating Ones

Once I was taken out of the box at Party City, the elders imparted their knowledge, divulging our purpose. We are known as “the floating ones.” Humans call us “balloons.” To these creatures bound forever to the earth, we easily catch their attention as we hover. Being so unique, our purpose is to send important messages to those who receive us.
My best friend "Get Well Soon!" told me a chilling tale of a "Happy Birthday!" bursting at the hands of carelessness. One of the air makers left "Happy Birthday!" to take in too much helium from the tank as he flirted with a large chested woman at the counter. Being denied the typical ceremonial rights, "Happy Birthday!" was thoughtlessly tossed away like an ordinary piece of ribbon. The elders confirmed this story when I asked them about it but they swore me to secrecy at the risk of scaring others.
You can be sure I was frightened when I was finally chosen to carry out my destiny. Luckily, there was no large chested woman to distract my air maker, but my luck was short lived. The air maker tied a string at my bottom to keep the air in, and I was afloat at last. The feeling was exhilarating. Floating felt even better than the legends hade made it seem to be.
My new owner muttered something about a graduation party, and we exited the Party City. It was my first time seeing the outside world. The excitement of my surroundings paired with with the heavenly sensation of being airborne distracted me from the thought that I never had a chance to say goodbye. I hardly considered the fact that I’d never see "Get Well Soon!" again. The wind at my back blew all my worries away shortly thereafter.
However, my ecstasy distracted me from realizing I was no longer in a parking lot. A few seconds earlier I heard my owner grunt an expression I had only heard once before when a hefty fellow was outraged to discover Party City didn’t carry a balloon with the message “Nice Rack.” I still don’t get it.
If I had to hazard a guess, I’d say it has been a minute now since my owner dropped her keys and inadvertently released me. Since then I’ve ascended rapidly and seen amazing things. I’ve seen animals that appear to live in the sky. Even the elders are unaware of any beings capable of soaring above the earth.
While these were truly a miraculous sight, I’m currently staring at a larger, much louder flying object. In fact, I can see several of them. I can’t tell if they are alive or not. They’re fast, and they’re definitely floating. Then again…both of these flying objects are different than I. They aren’t quite floating, they possess movement along every plain. While we floating ones can only soar upward, they can make direct paths for themselves. I must admit that I’m quite envious of such liberty. If the elders and other floating ones could see what I’m witnessing now.
I’m rising more quickly now. I don’t feel quite right. As if they very air inside me is increasing. I fear that my end is near and I never even got to fulfill my destiny. Someone out there is waiting for me to say Congratulations! That isn’t so important now. Seeing everything I’ve seen, I have to share my experiences with the elders. I have to get out there and tell them—POP.