Amanda Burrill

The sun actually warms that top layer.

And the sound around me, it was like this amniotic hum.

It was like I was safe in the world's womb.

And this feeling rose in my chest.

It was like some divine cord was just pulling me through time and space.

And this calm that washed over me left me wanting for nothing.

The vastness of the ocean of nature had taken the pressure off.

There was no more go, go, go, because there was nowhere to go.

And it allowed me to let go.

It unlocked this feeling that I didn't know I had been looking for.

Peace.

And there's no leveling up from that.

So I floated there in my own personal float tank, enjoying my bliss, my newfound freedom, when I see something in the horizon.

Oh, it's the ship.

I'd forgotten about the ship.

I don't know how long it took for it to pick me up because time wasn't a thing yet.

But when the ship got to me, it didn't haul me up the front at the fo'c'sle like it usually would.

And I get it.

I had just been left in the water.

There was a very good chance I was going to make a public display of dissatisfaction.