Zac stared blankly at the people standing around him. His back ached as it leaned heavily against the bus-stop pole. Wary eyes looked on and watched as passengers came and went, his hands fisted tightly in his coat pockets.

   If he closed his eyes real tight like; he could picture himself in a field of lush green grass that was as far as a person could see. Mountains surrounded around the acres of the green gold, as if wrapping itself into some cocoon, a sheltering from the outside world.
   He could feel the content smile on his lips, as he always did when he thought of his Paradise.

   The sound of the bus doors closing and the air brakes being released brought him back to the present.
   The silver sleek traveler roared away, and he felt light-headed from the fumes it left in its wake.
   He could feel his heart sinking heavily.

   Groaning in disgust, he pushed himself away from the pole and started walking.
   He had to leave all these silly thoughts and dreams behind him. He had a different kind of life to live.
   He had to perform with his brothers, make music, and live under a glass jar for all to see.
   Picking up the pace, Zac frowned down at the cement sidewalk. God… where were his brothers and friends to give him a ride when he needed one?

   Kids whizzed past him on their skeeters, their shoes squeaking on the cement as they pushed themselves harder and faster to their destination.

   He closed his eyes again for a second. Why couldn't he just be happy? Why couldn't he just accept his life as it is, like he did those years before and just be… happy. Be content all over again?

   Refusing to think again, Zac rushed to his house. He stared up bleakly at the place they'd once called their refuge and their sanctuary. Now it felt like their prison.
   Sighing, Zac walked on, kicking up small dust clouds along his way.