THE FIFTH REALM: TURQUOISE — A symphony for the body

She spent a long time rejoicing in her friends, the cherry tree, and this generous welcome. Then she went into the shelter, had supper, and blessed the food. Sleep was slow in coming. She had too many feelings, too many questions, and a mind busy giving shape to them all.

Small images fluttered around her. The moment she paid attention to one, it grew; if she named it, it seemed to gather fresh strength. Soon the shelter was full of presences demanding her attention.

“You don’t have to follow them,” Helio told her. “Let them come and go.”

Skyblue watched without feeding their stories. Gradually they began to lose their strength. By the time sleep came, the room was peaceful again.

She dreamed of music. Each sound unfolded into a color; each color awakened a feeling. She even sensed fragrances accompanying the melodies. It was a symphony she could hear with her whole body.

Helio’s voice passed through her like a wave:

“This is the power of the spoken word. Welcome to your first lesson.”