The Departure by Brian Alexander McCullough

Tag honed in on his surroundings-from what he could see, everything seemed the same.

He slowly stood and surveyed the area-the archway, gone. As he felt himself become whole, movement in his body returned and he managed to sit up, his awareness of his surroundings returning. He concentrated on the reintegration of his complete being as he felt himself floating directly above, looking down at his form still in a prone position. He rolled over, allowing his mind, spirit, and soul to return to his body-the knowledge of how to do so a gift from Sensei. On the ground, he found himself lying face down, gasping for breath, cold sweat and nausea coursing through him, amplifying a distinct feeling of unease. Suddenly, it stopped as the light spewed Tag from its grip. But, he thought, my body feels this experience-it must be real! He was acutely aware of the events, but wondering if it were happening only in his mind.

Tag knew what it was like to meditate, and this wasn’t it. What have I done? Exhilaration raced through him, sensations vacillating and shifting between reality and unreality. He was warm despite his awareness that outside of his enclosure there was extreme cold-a vast space. Energy cocooned him, but without effects of extreme heat or radiation. Gravity had little effect on him, but it wasn’t a floating weightlessness-rather an energetic forward movement without a sense of drag or friction. He entered the aperture, Lego’s howl echoing as he felt himself morphing into an ever-changing shape-like a rubber band when pulled. The indescribable presence compelled him forward as though someone or something were drawing him into the light. He peered into the center’s veiled archway-into another place. He moved closer, leaning forward to see the center-a shimmering filament led away from the opening, pulsating slightly with a sense of profound power. No matter the direction, he faced an apparent opening-no back, nor sides.

At ten feet he cautiously circled the object, observing it from every direction, his visual senses on overload as the stationary, slightly concave, hovering phenomenon exploded brilliant, pure colors. Tag dropped his backpack on the ground and inched nearer, his focus directed at the extraordinary sight.

The Departure by Brian Alexander McCullough