And yet, something tied them together, strong than any of that, something with the power to conduct her blood and breath like a symphony, so that anything she did to fight against it felt like discord, like disharmony with her self.

It's all a quilt of fairy tales with a patch here and there of truth.

Once upon a time, a girl lived in a sandcastle, making monsters to send through a hole in the sky.

My tiny scary friend is coming

Her courage was a guise. She wondered if courage always was, or if there were those who truly felt no fear.

When a street musician lowered his violin to inquire, 'Hey lovely, what you got there?' she said, 'Musicians who ask questions,' and kept on dragging.

The main thing I've learned is that we all have to learn to work with - and appreciate - the brain we've been given, and not waste time wishing things were easier.