text: Thwack. Such a specific sound. Thwack. I mean, the comic books have it right. Thwack, right across the back of the hero as the villain stands over her. Sometimes I like to imagine that the world is like a blanket. Covering everything in warmth and safety. And in the blanket, there are wrinkles and swirls like galaxies and stars. When it’s just dark enough, I like to imagine visiting each one of them. Exploring the universe all right under my blanket. If I cough too much, sometimes I see the colors and those stars too. The Nurse says it’s... consumption and it makes me cough. And tired. Which is why I love my blanket universe. Whenever I’m tired, I get to dream and go to all these fantastical amazing beautiful worlds. But when I am awake. All alone. Late at night. And the worlds I’ve visited don’t want me to be there anymore, or if Darla says I shouldn’t. Thwack. Late at night, when I’m all alone. I change the universe. So I stand up, put on my blanket, and dance. I do a Hope Dance. I change my universe. And when I’m tired I get to explore entirely new worlds and stars and colors. Because I still have hope. “Hi, I’m Annabelle! Are you here to adopt me?” “Well... Annabelle, we are... thinking about it.” “Oh, well, that’s ok-” She cuts herself off in a short coughing fit, “I’m tired, can I have my blanket?” Darla stands near the door glaring. “Thimble, sweetie, Mr. Scott, and Mrs. Maranda came a very long way to meet you - “ “No, no it’s okay. I think we’ll... maybe be back and come some other time.” They quickly grab their coats and leave. Darla slams the door softly. “I’m sorry.” “For what, sweetie?” ... “I’m sorry... can I have my blanket please?” Thwack My blanket is so soft and warm. It helps me feel better. I like to imagine I’m in a spaceship flying far across the galaxy. Waving Hellos to all the people I see. They all look so tiny, woven into the fabric, little smiles and faces. Everyone looks so different - Orange, Purple, Green, Blue. All saying Hello! In silent voices and waves. I can’t hear them because they’re too far away. And when I visit these worlds and dream - Dad is making breakfast and Mom is combing my hair. And I feel Home. We smile and laugh and then I have to go to the next world and find my Mom and Dad there. And we smile and sometimes we live in castles and wear beautiful dresses and we smile But... They’re not smiling today. They look sad and that makes me sad. With their sad voices and silent tears. When I feel like this and they frown, I get up and put my blanket over my head and hear beautiful silent music. And I dance. I dance and I smile and I feel happy once again, letting my feet and hands make new wrinkles and galaxies and stars. I change my universe.