Crunching gravel underfoot up the walkway, green seas sprawling on either side. Warmth, golden rays beaming down and cheerily illuminating the world. The seas of green roll peacefully. Crunchy walkway of sandy-colored gravel. Tall shadow spreading a reprieve of cool blue over the hot, sunny world. Warm gray stones in front of me, smooth and beautiful.
I can smell the rolling seas of green, crisp and fresh. The scent rises to me, and carries the taste of dew. Birds are chirping and singing merrily, lawn mowers echo in the distance, distant cars zoom past. I am captivated by the sensory overload for a moment, taking it all in.
Perfect stones climb for miles upward and to either side. Light illuminates the shadows and I can glimpse the world inside as though I’m watching it on a giant screen TV. Once I’m past the arresting sounds and scents of the green seas, the world still makes sound, but I am no longer part of it. The only thing I see, smell, and taste now is wood.
Beautiful, unmarred wood. I breathe deeply. There’s an almost sappy scent, and I feel like I’m standing in a forest of trees after it rained. A glimmer catches my eye, and I see the shining brass. Suddenly, there is not wood in front of me, but the TV world expanding in all directions. I’ve been invited into the show.
The intoxicating fragrances of mashed potatoes and gravy, butter and fresh-baked rolls, hot steamy chicken, freshly-cooked carrots, sweet wine, and many other smells immediately swarm over me. I can see to my left a grand semi-spiral staircase with ivory carpet, mahogany wood, and elaborately carved wooden railings, with huge glass windows that make up the wall and allow me to glimpse the rolling green seas once more.
To my right, there are many mahogany doors all along the wall, and straight ahead is a sprawling open area of great beauty. Illuminated brightly, and very inviting, are several sitting rooms filled with chaise lounge chairs, elaborate sofas, hand-carved tables, ancient lamps, and breath-taking chandeliers.
Sinking into the arms of heaven itself, I sighed and spoke with the others there. The sounds of our voices filled my head. Gravelly and rough, silky and smooth, angry, sing-songy, hard, beautiful, I was arrested by the sounds.
Shaggy and brown, long and blonde, wispy and gray. Choppy and black, buzzed, bald, balding. Long and red, curly and gray, long, curly, and brown. Silky smooth, frizzy and tangled, curly, straight, fried, luscious, flat, voluminous. Up, down, elegant, plain, thin, thick.
Brown, blue, green, hazel, gray. Dull or shiny. Deep or shallow. Readable windows to a thousand souls. Short, tall, fat, thin, tan, brown, charcoal, olive, paste, fair, red, orange, old, young.
Everything swirled into a soft focus around me. The conversation was buzzing in my ears as the world and I again became separate. Cold and sweet, wetness poured down my throat. Sweet yet bitter, and I felt a wave of relief wash over me. The buzzing continued, as did the wetness pouring down my throat.
Euphoric. I felt euphoric. I no longer had to tune out the buzzing, because I couldn’t hear anyway. Numb. Beautifully numb. The soft focus blurred, but it didn’t matter. I didn’t need to focus. The cushioned heavenly embrace around me added to the feeling. I’d never felt better. The past was drowned out as well as I was drowning in the cushiony softness. The comfort was entrancing.
Waiting. The hostess brought out cards, and I was barely aware of the shuffling sound. Crisp cards flipping, noisy chatter, laughter, obnoxious. Money thrown to the centers of tables. Fresh crisp and green, crumpled old and soft. Creased, folded, faded, new, old, crinkled, unscathed.
Triumph, defeat. Victory cheers and groans of the conquered. Money gained, money lost. Emotions blurred around me. Obnoxious came to mind again. Victorious faces laughing with malicious smiles. Angry rematch calls. The games begin again.
Shuffling, crisp cards flipping, noisy chatter, laughter, obnoxious. Money thrown to the centers of tables. Fresh crisp and green, crumpled old and soft. Creased, folded, faded, new, old, crinkled, unscathed. Triumph, defeat.
After a few rounds, drinks were brought out again. No more for me. Everyone else started drinking more this time. Cold, sweet wetness poured down the thirsty gullets. The laughter became more obnoxious. Soon, everyone was sitting.
Pounding, sharp pangs that turned to dull thuds and came back again. Impossible to think beyond anything else. Silence. No taste, touch, smell, or sight. Blackness. Pain. Headache. Sharp to dull, sharp to dull. Light coming through the darkness in flashes. In time with the throbs.
Time passed, and soon it was over. No more fog. No more pain. My senses returned. Everyone else was recovering as well. Clarity. No more peace. The hostess announced dinner was ready. Finally.
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