Con ripped himself away, and reality was stark and cold. The avalanche was applause, loud and boisterous in my ear, and I flinched away from the noise. There were bright spots in my vision from too long in the spotlight, and I managed to drape a heavy arm over my face to block out the glare, but the colors remained in the shadows of my eyelids. I shivered, and traces of unnameable sensation raced through me.
