.::~~~~=$@                                          @$=~~~~::.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$####                                          ####$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.....~=$##                    $$                    ##$=~.....
.:~==$####                  $$  $$                  ####$==~:.
...:::===@                  $    $                  @===:::...
....~~~=$#                  $$  $$                  #$=~~~....
.:~==$@###                    $$                    ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.....:=$$@            # #~~~~~~~~~~~# #             @$$=:.....
.:~==$@###     ## #  # # # FEY BELLS # #  # ## #    ###@$==~:.
....::=$@#            # #~~~~~~~~~~~# #             #@$=::....
....~~=$$@                                          @$$=~~....
.:~==$@### ENVELOP ME IN NOISE... A SANDSTORM OF    ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@### SOUND... AND SURE ENOUGH, BETWEEN THE    ###@$==~:.
......~=@# GRAINS THERE ARE CALLS FROM OTHER        #@=~......
..:::~===@ WORLDS -                                 @===~:::..
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@### DISTANT WAILING SIRENS, COMING CLOSER    ###@$==~:.
...::~=$## BUT STAYING OUT OF REACH... TELLING ME   ##$=~::...
....:~=$## THAT SOMETHING IS HAPPENING, PERFUMING   ##$=~:....
.:~==$@### ME WITH SOMEONE ELSES EXCITEMENT         ###@$==~:.
...~~~=$$@                                          @$$=~~~...
.....:=$$@ THE PHONE RINGING, A CERTAIN PHONE FROM  @$$=:.....
...:~=$@@@ A JOB LONG LOST, URGING FOR SOMEONE TO   @@@$=~:...
.:~==$@### PICK UP                                  ###@$==~:.
...~====@@                                          @@====~...
....~~=$@#                                          #@$=~~....
.....~=$$@ AND AT TIMES, WHEN I'M ALMOST DROWNING   @$$=~.....
..:~~~==@@ IN THIS METAPHORICAL SAND, BREATHING     @@==~~~:..
.:~==$$$## IT, THE VEIL IS NEXT TO BREACHED... I    ##$$$==~:.
....:===$# HEAR FLUTES, SINES, REPEATING THEMES     #$===:....
.:~==$@### LIKE WERE THEY CALLS FROM RUBBERY        ###@$==~:.
...~===$@@ BIRDS... DEAFENINGLY LOUD!               @@$===~...
.:~==$@### BUT LIKE A MIRAGE, CONSTANTLY            ###@$==~:.
....::==$# EVAPORATING AND REFORMING.               #$==::....
.:~==$@### AND NOT REALLY TOUCHING MY EARDRUMS.     ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@###                                          ###@$==~:.
.:~==$@@##                                          ##@@$==~:.
.:~==$$$$@                                          @$$$$==~:.