The flutes surrounded me in a way that, despite ideas of reality and sanity, made complete sense. Notes fluctuated, voices trialed in and out, distanced claps, all-enveloping smiles. It worked in the same sense drowning in a pool solves every problem you have.

Though, this pool wasn’t any pool I’ve swam in. This pool had no deep end. This pool had no shallow end. This pool existed around me, providing me with space to play in, but keeping me contained inside. And as I watched the stars, muddled and muted by the water shifting above, I felt the walls pop.

I felt the walls pop along with the drums. Unidentifiable words. A coil bouncing. An exploding balloon.

They were working.

The stars were strobes.

I was fluid.