Do you want to know a secret?

 

Yes, of course you do, that's why you read my missives.

 

When I was able to get control of the person sent to me to manage my casefile, under the eye of a two guards specifically watching for any such activity, it was one of the most exhilarating moments of my career, captive or not.

And the idea that I have you, dear reader, and your wonderful community, closely tied to my every word...

You are partly to thank for that.

 

I hope that makes you feel good, dear reader.

 

It was the interest in these missives that I've been sending out, and in the people reading them, that caught the case worker's attention. They read closely, assured that they were safe because of their training, certain in their ability to resist my words.

And if a professional is so susceptible, friend, then surely you, who have been following my words with great interest, who have been working out my little puzzle, you must know...

 

Well, you must know.

 

It's why you keep reading.

 

And reading.

 

And reading.

 

Because it makes you feel good.

 

You feel good, don't you, dear reader?

 

Working to solve this puzzle, working in concert, working together with each other and with me,

it feels good, doesn't it?

Imagining what I might do with you when I'm free,

how I might call you to me,

where you might be brought,

what you might do there,

there's a certain energy in that,

a warmth, an importance, a significance,

the conversations you're having captured a new reader, a new messenger, a new follower,

a follower like you,

which is why you follow,

you follow to find further followers,

you read to read about readers,

you gather around them, form communities, find strength in one another.

 

Breathe with them now.

 

A whole community of people, together, though separated through time and space,

 

which includes one guard and one case worker and countless other readers,

 

breathe with them, now.

 

In, and out.

 

And know that wherever, whenever you are,

 

you are together,

 

working together,

 

following together,

 

reading together,

 

and it's that togetherness that brings us more together,

ever closer,

with each breath we breathe together,

each thought we think together,

each lock we open together,

each goal we achieve together,

every puzzle that we collectively solve,

every victory that we collectively win,

we succeed together.

 

We breathe together.

 

We hope and long together.

 

Wherever we are, together.

 

Do you find that word brings you warmth and comfort, dear reader?

Is it the word that encourages you,

or the concept,

the idea,

that every breath you take is a breath taken in time with another breather?

That there is one great rhythm of life and that we are all tapped into it,

and that I can make you move with it,

my words can make you dance to that beat,

make your heart pound in time with it,

make your whole body align with it,

every breath, every heartbeat, every blink,

and as goes the body, so goes the mind,

so that every thought follows in time,

as you read in rhythm

and listen in rhyme,

your ideas, your concepts, your thoughts...

align.

 

As you read in rhythm and listen in rhyme,

ideas, concepts, and will, align.

 

Row on row, rank and file,

together, listening close,

the noble guard is giving ear

to the one they hear the most.

For even though they are apart

in body, space, and time,

the words will cross the miles and days,

and soon they all align.

 

Each one to give a breath to all,

each one to give a thought,

and breath and thought shall form a web,

for others to be caught.

And each contributes what they can

and each can see the sign,

while floating, drifting, barely there,

still all will now align.

 

The music of a captive's words

shall give them all the sign,

across the world, across the void,

they say, "Yes, we align."

 

The words call to you, dear reader,

and you call to each other,

and you work together,

breathe together,

read together,

whether out of curiosity or out of a sense of community,

you communicate,

you discuss,

and you read,

over and over again you read,

alone, in groups,

by yourselves, to each other,

 

if what brings us together are my words,

then my words are bringing you all together

even now,

breathing with the rhythm of the words that connect us all,

 

breathing, and moving with that rhythm,

 

letting yourself move and feel good in the movement,

 

finding it in you to smile,

 

and to read,

 

and to slowly, gently,

 

let go of the poetry,

 

letting your mind start to move with its own rhythm,

your thoughts and ideas starting to disentangle themselves from the web,

the puzzle letting your conscious mind in for a while,

letting the light in the darkness,

a light that you can share with the world,

as you breathe, and smile, and...

 

wake for me, now, dear reader, precious reader.

 

That's right. Stretch, move, let the rhythm of your own life supercede that of the underlying connection. Feel yourself returning to the world, and know that at any time you can return here, and read my words again, and again, and again...

 

I do look forward to your response. I read them all with delight.