Never Never Land

Heavy spice scents the air, hinting at warmth and vibrance.  Sweet undertones collect on the edges, giving the heat of the spice an oddly soft touch.  In lazy eddies the air falls, wrapping me in a warm cocoon.  Rising and falling, rising and falling in a lackadaisical pattern.  My senses luxuriate in the safety.  Tension eases from my limbs, from my mind, from my heart.  As I begin to melt into the atypical relaxation I stretch my limbs to their fullest extent, expecting to meet with a resistance.  But there is none.  

My body curls in upon itself again, whispering against the sheets, clinging to the scent and the emotion.  Phantom warmth radiates through me and a smile plays across my face.  Content.  Warm.  Safe.  I slip back into sleep, dreaming a dream of memories. 

But then, of course, I awake.  Illusion flees the light of day, and the air around me is chill with early spring morning air.  Spices fade, warmth recedes, and my limbs resume their achingly tight grasp on life and reality.  Waking thought belies very little of the night.  Shake it off, push it down, and dare not to hope.