It began I think, with the Sun. Elusive like most beginnings; industrious little burrowers heading back to the cool soil, flitting bright wings chased laughing by light through a heaven of leaves, coils sliding happily from the warmth of sleeping old rocks. Beginnings seen and not seen in unequal measures and treasured more in course.

It seemed a revelation, but I realized it was a reminder. A prompting to gentle action with the brush of the day's own awareness, the jolly sun a partner in the act. Warm air and grass and more than enough light to read every word of the world's creation, and still enough to shine through every smile. Complicitous sun blazing away, giggling; I could spare him a quick grin with my eyes screwed up tight.

I shut the curtain on Skinner and his cogs and wheels, his creaky mechanism needed so much oil. It usually never worked anyway - kept breaking down, hissing, steaming as it was forced back into the cage. So sharp and hot, you couldn't hug the poor thing for long, it would just suck out all the love you had and still look at you with its broken eyes - imploring you for more, never full because of the leaky heart its father had made for it.

I found a free spirit living inside my head. He said it was ok if I looked inside his. So many things were living there, terrible, wonderful, beautiful, some half made and never to be finished, others carved in crystal and gold and ready to fight entropy to inaction for a million years if you asked them with a smile. All the colours and sounds and words dancing to the music of their own creation; I thanked them with my hasty tears.

I didn't want any part of the moment to end. I could feel greed's hands rushing out from my sides, ready with claws to snatch at all of my new friend's children. But he knew a lot about me - told me what I should have already known. Of all his children - I was the first that he'd said goodbye to. I told him I would visit again. Sooner this time. Always sooner, because the sun goes down.