There's another side.
Heavy with veils.
Rarely a place anyone really believes can be touched.
But I've seen them, I've touched them.
And I keep it to myself.
The promise of tomorrow not as important as it once was.
The fear of endless slumber, is subtle.
The curiosity of the unknown now overbearing.
Suddenly my actions make sense.

It all started when I've left just to come back.
That feeling of weightlessness.
The sensation of utter stillness.
Time wrapping itself over me, like I was it's child it hushed to sleep.
My eyes held closed by the hand of something I haven't a name to.
The feeling of trust pulling at my chest.
Trusting something someone should want to escape.
The whispers of soundless voices but they can be felt against your skin.
All their stories, spoken and written with words you can't pick apart.

Seeing all the beauty.
Waltzing around in the light.
The gentleness of the distant reality attempting to coax me in.
Almost winning the want for me to stay.
Orchestrating my will to live into the want to wander from life.
Temptation at its grand finest.
Every detail etched with grace and perfection.
But not too perfect.
Learning that conflict needed to still reside, for a purpose to form.
Even then the wars were so easily won.
The enemy fleeing at the sight of light.
The man of such a realm, I had followed him so far, he clings to my skin, begging me to not let go.
Fighting for me to not return home.

Separation taking place.
Everything seemed so clear then.
Until the darkness swallowed me whole.
The shadows tearing away at my soul.
Like silk in a storm.
The ambers feasting at my ankles.
The coal charred and weeping.
The mountains deadened and without anything to hold up.
And a king in a fortress he calls his castle.
Shrouded in shadow and kindling the realm's sickening purpose.
Watching over the tormented spirits whom have nowhere to go.
Tied down by their want for the worst.
Free to be free until they can open their grip to become merciful.
But the king has never seen any of them fly....