Inner Space Elizabeth, August 3, 2025August 3, 2025 courtesy of Pixabay The scene was set, and the music about to begin. I put on my sunglasses, and leaned back into lush, green grass. As soon as I closed my eyes, spirals in all the primary colors began to spin on the screen in front of me. They elongated, quickly forming funnels when they came into contact with one another. A bee came to sit on the edge of an orange funnel, looking inside for pollen, then disappeared into its center. The curious cat that I am, I followed the bee into the flower. The world around me became black as night. Stars smiled at me, saying, “Welcome! We’re so glad to see you!” They reached out with their arms, and pushed the clouds away forcefully. A light emerging in front of me brightened as it became more energetic. With each note it sang, a new design formed, until all known seven notes expressed their frequency. Once the music ended, the light disseminated into stardust, as a celestial broom swept through, sending all of it into the recesses of inner space. Now out of sight, they hid in the far corners of the room. They giggled, covering the laughter on their faces with their hands. Sneaking closer to their hideout, I surprised them with a loud “Peek-a-boo!” They squealed, running away from my presence, until all I could see was pitch black. Feeling a bit unsure of myself, I was instantly captured by an invisible hammock, as I fell from the sky. After being caught up, I bounced back into the air above me, so far I touched the edge of the bright crescent moon with my fingertips. I landed back into my hammock gently, and put my hands behind my head, and continued to gaze upwards. Others called this nothingness. But I called this everything. And more. A colorful nebula in the shape of an eye came into view, and stared back at me, looking deep into my soul. It knows me better than I know myself. I sighed in relief, taking in its beauty and absorbing the comfort it was sending me. I was myself, and it loved me anyway. The net broke under the sheer weight of me, and I descended at lightning speed, splashing into a turquoise sea, teeming with life. I smacked the surface of the water with great force, and plunged to the sea bed below. Seaweed wrapped between my fingers, yet I considered the feel of it a delightful sensory treat. The coral pinks of the reef beneath me gave structure to what appeared as a zoo of colorful chaos. Fish and sea creatures fashioned by the rainbow itself swam away as I encroached on their way of life. I smiled to myself. Don’t worry, little guys. I won’t hurt you at all. I shot up like a rocket to the surface of the water, and immediately took in a deep breath of fresh air. A frog, resting on a lily pad near me, croaked quietly, acknowledging my presence. As if waiting for me, a wooden boat appeared to my left. I climbed in, becoming aware someone out there was watching out for me. I laid back in the boat, drifting off to sleep, though the sunlight directly above shone brightly on me. I opened my eyes, as the violins crescendoed, the loudest I had ever heard them. I sat up, and the orchestra slowly quieted to a dull roar. I took off my sunglasses, remembering my dream. The grass was greener than it had ever been, and flowers along the the garden’s edge brimmed with contrasting colors of red, yellow and purple. They all spoke to me, saying, “Welcome back!” ******* Creative Writing