LOPE Explanation (Don't Panic) three.

Is there any particular reason I am being escorted up a fire escape on a building that hasn't seen a good word in two decades? And is there a point to whatever they want to show me? I emerged in the middle of the desert five days ago, an Amtrak passenger with dozens and dozens of others, and never thought the populace would vanish. Only recently did I get an explanation on how or why we had all been distorted in an awkward manner, and made to endure a painful lecture that can't be true. There are still tears running down my eyes, and a sense of unreality. I hope it doesn't fade away and become real. Ugh...

I have now reached the roof, and this loon with the silly name has called upon me.

"What's your name, Missuer?"
"I'd rather not say."
"Oh, you are like me, are you? If so, come out and tell it. It's alright. Your life will go on. And I promise you it will get better."

I told her my name.

She paused. "Fine with me, it is. I don't care that much. Tell me, do you feel any beckoning from the sky?"

"Are you a nutcase? I'll go splat! You don't actually expect me to spread my wings and take to the sky, do you?!"

I was on fire.

She shrugged. "No." Then her eyes lit up. "But I *do* intend to make you see what could potentially await you in the near future."

I heard murmurs in the background, and they didn't sound reassuring. I began to break out into a cold sweat. Finding myself in such a position could not have been more unpleasant if a sledgehammer struck me. I came out into the daylight. (The roof had a large canopy on it.)
I looked at the railing and leaned on it. It smelled of wax. There was clearly loads of work to be done here. The railing had been polished, but the building as a whole hadn't been through any real substantial maintenance in years. No renovations. I hadn't leapt from the damn thing, as that would have been suicide. But I did tell her I'm not queasy. That was all I could say truthfully. She said that's alright and I didn't have to do this.

When I stepped back, five or six volunteers had stepped forward, one of which asked if there was a trampoline or a net anywhere to ensure safety. She said it hadn't been necessary in years. That sure did plenty to alleviate my anxieties. The mare who asked this played a short tune, then jumped. JUMPED?!

I rushed to the side only to see she was nowhere to be seen. When I looked up, there was an odd sight in the sky. A mare was hovered in midair. Huh? How is that possible? By the same process that robbed me of my body and everybody I ever knew?

As I pondered this, that strange mare who told us about our "Newfound" abilities, or potential said we'd get out of our depressions real quick as soon as we embrace pegasi. I told her this was stupid again, and I have had the most realistic dream anybody has ever had. She only rolled her eyes at this as if to say "I heard it all before, and know exactly how this will turn out."

I lifted up my dress and looked at the stuff beneath it. And winced. It was tight fitting on that day almost a week ago. Now it's loose, but it still fits. It's the only piece of clothing I've got, as the rest don't fit at all now, and are under investigation. For what is anyone's guess. I spent the last four in a room in a building designated for people like us recently trapped in equine bodies, unaware of what happened. They wanted us to recuperate before telling us the truth. Doesn't soften the blow. Like, at all. Not even remotely.

A small gasp emerged in the background as I thought this, and looked where they were. A large woosh was heard, and a vast set of feathered wings was shown, and their owner landed on the roof in front of us. She looked us right in the face, and asked who wants a flight lesson. No one answered. The figure in front of us was one of those gryphons Hadley told us about. Soon after, another figure with lizardlike features landed by her side, and stood on her hind legs. She had vast bat wings on her back.

The bipedal one spoke first:"If you have any doubts, I'll show you anything is possible." She downed metal nuts in front of our eyes, and let us all have a feel to assure us they were real.

She grabbed me, then the gryphon took another stallion and flew off with us. Now we'll have nightmares about this. We were escorted home after this nightmare fueling experience, yet they said it's for our own good. Not me. I want to keep my feet on the ground.

Before I did, I met a guest from out of town who happened to be coming through. She said her name was Miss Day, and she may know better than anyone what I'm going through. A sense of uselessness and inferiority, a desire for people I knew before this happened, and to have my own body back, but hers more extreme. Somehow, I doubt that's possible.

I shall see how things will turn out.