Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
'As long as you are aware, on some level, that the hallucinations
aren't real, you'll be fine,' Dr Pack had reassured me before I'd
left the UK. 'It's only when you are unable to tell what is reality
that it becomes a clinical problem.'
I considered his words. Did I know that the sun wasn't
actually speaking to me?
'Careful. I can hear what you are thinking,' warned the sun.
The threat was clear. If I caused affront by pondering the
reality of my spectral companion, I would have only myself to
blame when the sun consequently disappeared into bad weather
and refused to come back. The thought of days without the
sun to give contrast, without a guiding light to navigate by,
filled me with disproportionate dread. I would do anything to
insure against a return to those dreadful days of dimensionless
gloom. I apologised earnestly to the sun and tried to erase all
thoughts of the psychology of my developing friendship.
'Don't worry,' I placated. 'Of course I know you are real and
I'm very grateful for such very real company.'
I turned my face towards the incandescent light and felt its
warmth. Irrespective of the reality of the voice in my head, I
couldn't doubt that the sun was at least a real physical presence,
one that warmed not just my skin but my spirit. My whole body
rejoiced in the relief of a sun-filled day. Nothing strange in that,
but here it made the difference between contented endurance
and a desperate struggle. As if to signify my forgiveness, a
prismatic halo circled the sun. The halo branched into a mirror
image of itself at each point of the compass, like four multi-
coloured smiles. And at each point of contact a flare of rainbow
light marked the spot. My heart lifted to meet the spectacle but
then soared as I noticed the optics had widened even further,
spreading a pale band of light around the sky directly above
Search WWH ::




Custom Search