[h1][i]D[sub]a [/sub]n [sup]i [/sup][sub] e[/sub]l[sup] l[/sup] e   D[sub]a[/sub] [sub] l [/sub]l  [sup]o [/sup] n[/i][/h1]
[I]Tuesday, May 11, 2021[/i]
Somewhere on the long road, a young girl rest her head against the cool glass window pane of the family car. She stared blankly out at the side of the road, watching trees and clouds and houses go by. She was day dreaming--the rest of the world had been tuned out; there was only Danielle and her imagination. 

[I]She became an angel flying among the clouds with a bird essence, or sped along the roadside with the essence of a cheetah. Further down the road she transformed into a dragon, aided by the gliding lizard. Then she was a fairy with the wings and essence of the butterfly. 

As she dreamily flew alongside the car, she noticed white balls of fluff began to appear and float all around her. [/i][color=khaki]Snow?[/color][i]Dani wondered, but it was much too warm for snow. [/i][color=khaki]No... dandelion seeds! Lots and lots of dandelion seeds![/color][i] she exclaimed as she fluttered and twirled around the street with her arms out, giggling with her eyes closed in glee. 

As the balls of fluff came closer, she began to hear overlapping, disembodied whispers. [/I][sup]Listen...[/sup][sub]Listen...[/SUB] Listen...[sup]Listen...[/sup][i] Danielle looked around confused. The voices were getting more insistent, now. One seed drifted toward her, and Danielle reached out, cupping it in her hands. [/I][b]Wake up![/b][i] the seed seemed to shout in a loud whisper.[/i]

[B]"Wake up, Danielle! Wake up!"[/b] a sweet, young voice whined. Somebody was pulling at Dani's clothes. It was Destiny, Danielle's younger sister. Her brother was pointing at the girl with a smug, mischievous face. [B]"He's touching me!"[/b] she complained with pouty lips and a wrinkled forehead as she pointed at him. [B]"Am not!"[/b] William protested. Their mother's scolding face appeared in the rearview mirror.[B]"William, leave your sister alone! Both of you, listen to me. I'm trying to drive."[/b]

[Color=khaki]"Huh... whah...?"[/color] Dani answered groggily. She rubbed her eyes and blinked twice. All seemed normal. The two half-siblings were slapping each other and screaming. Abagail, the eldest sibling, was in the front passenger seat leaning back with her eyes closed and big headphones on and muffled music coming out. Her mother turned around while driving and gave William and Destiny the glare, and they immediately fell silent and still. She turned back around, lifted a cigarette to the open window and flicked. 

The car was quiet now, but for radio static and muffled music. Danielle fidgeted,  adjusting her legs and looking out the window. What was she listening for, and why did she feel so inclined? She started combing her tangled hair with her fingers anxiously, when she noticed something white and fluffy stuck amid her golden locks.

[Color=khaki][i]A dandelion seed?[/i][/color] Dani thought, bewildered as she picked it delicately out of her hair. [I]Please listen,[/i] the voice echoed again. Her eyes went wide with surprise. [Color=khaki][i]"Are... are you talking to me?"[/i][/color] the girl asked in a hushed whisper as she stared at the seed caught in her fingers. A few seconds passed, and there was nothing but her mother's sigh, grumbles in the backseat, and something oddly intriguing on the radio.

[Color=khaki][i]"Mom,  cou-could you please turn the radio up?"[/i][/color] Danielle asked quietly and politely. [B]"Of course, honey,"[/b] her mother answered with a smile in her eyes, looking back in the mirror. She reached for the volume dial and turned it up, mostly getting static. [Color=silver][i]--One of our head researchers possesses an essence...plant essence..."[/i][/color] it began before cutting out. 

Danielle's heart skipped a beat. [Color=khaki]"Oh please, Mom, get it back! I want to hear the rest,"[/color] Dani pleaded. Her mother chuckled. [B]"You and your silly fascination with essences."[/b] She adjusted the channel knob, eventually getting it back, somewhat. [Color=silver][i]"--Our upcoming Summit on Human and Animal Relations with Plants...You need not be a scientist or doctor...some conferences...lighthearted activities...Everyone is welcome."[/i][/color]

[Color=khaki]"Can we go, Mom? I'll use my allowance money to pay for us!"[/color] Dani volunteered enthusiastically. [Color=khaki]"Please, please!"[/color] she begged uncharacteristically. The girl was never one to ask for [i]anything,[/i] but this felt important. There was silence as she listened to the radio, considering. 

[B]"This is boring!"[/b] William complained. [B]"Yeah, boring!"[/b] Destiny joined in. They started bouncing in their seats. [B]"Boring, boring, boring!"[/b] Mom sighed and turned the radio off. [B]"I'll think about it, honey. That's a big commitment."[/b] Danielle smiled. That wasn't a 'no'.