What Lies in the East, is unknown to the people of the center. They all wish to go there one day, but never dare until their skin glows white. The East as the old songs say is a heaven you go to after you glow. East, West, North, and South are all unknown to the people of the center. They do not dare to go beyond the comfort of their homes. Why would they? They have perfect lives in their happy world of everlasting sunshine and summer. Until Rachel when’t north, tempted by the songs of old.
“Oma what is rain?”
Oma blinked, “I don’t know, I suppose it is something that somes from the sky like the songs say.”
“What is the cold in the North?”
Oma, stumped by her tiny granddaughter, replied. “Well I suppose it comes from ice like the songs say.” Mya, the tiny girl pondered for a moment.
“Why don’t we know adout rain and cold?” Oma swallowed, her daughter Rachel had asked the same question.
“Sometimes we don’t know everything Mya.” With that Oma tucked Mya in her bed, told her good night and retreated to her room.
But Mya’s words kept her up at night. Begging that Mya didnt risk everything to learn about the words of the ancients like Rachel. When Oma closed her eyes again hearing her daughter begging to keep Mya safe, to go to the North as her husband carried her East, as Rachel was too weak to descend to the heavens on her own. Mikel, Rachels husband, had started glowing the day Rachel had come back shining just as bright. Rachel had undergone a transformation during travel becomeing withered and brittle. Oma hoped Mya would not undergo the same thing. Slowly, but surely, Oma fell to sleep.