It rose up inside her- quickly. But what was it? Her mind was right there- with it- in its midst. She still could not identify it. It was as if she was seeing it through water- distorted and swaying. It continued to rise- up and up and up. And then it was gone. It had disappeared behind a cloud. She felt like weeping- just like the sticky kid who had been too caught up with his cotton candy to hold on to his balloon, who watched helplessly as it flew towards the heavens, tugging at his mother’s arm, pleading with her to bring it back.