###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                    ==                    .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                   =  =                   .~-=*%@###
#%%%*=~~.. -----------------=    =----------------- ..~~=*%%%#
###@%*=-~.                   =  =                   .~-=*%@###
#@***-....                    ==                    ....-***@#
#@@@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@@@#
#@%%%*=-~.  IN A BLACK RUBBERY SLEEP I DREAM ABOUT  .~-=*%%%@#
###@%*=-~.         COLD BOILING ASPHALT AND         .~-=*%@###
@@%**-~...        CRIMSON EMERGENCY FLARES...       ...~-**%@@
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
#@%**==-~.                    ==                    .~-==**%@#
###@%*=-~. ------------------=  =------------------ .~-=*%@###
@@@*===-~.                    ==                    .~-===*@@@
##%*=~....                                          ....~=*%##
###@%*=-~.   THEY WERE TEARING DOWN STATUES, AND    .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.  BELLOWING THEIR MANIFEST, IN THE RAIN,  .~-=*%@###
####@%=-~.               IN THE DARK,               .~-=%@####
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
#@**=~....     AND SOMETHING FOLLOWED ME OUT, A     ....~=**@#
###@%*=-~.  YEARNING. A MEMORY OF BEING TOUCHED BY  .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.    A RAY FROM A RASPBERRY SUN. STILL     .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.  THERE, EVERYTHING WOULD BE GRITTY AND   .~-=*%@###
@*--......  FULL OF TAR. RAIN UPON IT. BUT THEN A   ......--*@
#@%%=---~.  FEW BRIGHT AND COLORFUL ANOMALIES. AND  .~---=%%@#
###@%*=-~.           A PROMISE FOR MORE.            .~-=*%@###
####@%*=-~                                          ~-=*%@####
@%=~......  LIKE WAKING UP WITH A BUSINESS CARD IN  ......~=%@
###@%*=-~.              YOUR POCKET...              .~-=*%@###
#@*-......                                          ......-*@#
###@%*=-~.   A FEATHER BOA WRAPPED AROUND A VELVET  .~-=*%@###
@@%**=-...  LIZARD, SURFACING FOR MILLISECONDS AT A ...-=**%@@
###@%*=-~.    TIME, CALLING, TUGGING AT MY ARMS.    .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.    BEGGING ME TO SINK BACK DOWN AND BE   .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.  WITH THEM, WITH THEIR KIND. EASY TO GET .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.  WASHED AWAY FROM THE TETHER, FROM THE   .~-=*%@###
@%=~~.....               WAY BACK UP.               .....~~=%@
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
@**=~.....                                          .....~=**@
###@%*=-~. BUT I CANNOT GO. THE CONSEQUENCES WOULD  .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.  BE TOO LARGE. ESPECIALLY SINCE I'M IN   .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.    THE WORK MILL AND THEY'VE GOT THEIR   .~-=*%@###
@*--~.....   EYES ON ME ALREADY. THE FEELING WILL   .....~--*@
###@%*=-~.  WANE, AND I WILL MISS IT, AND CEASE TO  .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.       UNDERSTAND. LIKE EVERY DAY.        .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                    ==                    .~-=*%@###
@*=--.....                   =  =                   .....--=*@
###@%*=-~. -----------------=    =----------------- .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                   =  =                   .~-=*%@###
@%%%**=-~.                    ==                    .~-=**%%%@
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
@@%*-.....                                          .....-*%@@
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
###@%*=-~.                                          .~-=*%@###
#@*---~...                                          ...~---*@#