Sept 15th: A New Discovery

    In my hands, is a slab of a tree. A tree that has been neglected, killed, and somehow shaped into this slab that is now lying between my fingertips. With examination I witness as this item is invigorated by my touch. Its pressed sheets react to my hands, moving in a motion that mimics a wave in the ocean. Flowing in a pattern that is mesmerizing to the touch and harmonious to the ear. My curiosity proceeds me, and my hands involuntarily claw apart this once firm symbol of life. To start, I tear away the outer casing. In this action, it came to my discovery that the outside may have served a protective purpose. A purpose that I had defeated through my spark of curiosity. Nonetheless, I carry on, and peel the layer just below the outer shell. This layer is more delicate and slightly more responsive to a light touch. Not only was this layer varying in appearance, but also in its material. It was lighter, as if to signify a purpose of quick access. Beginning to slowly peel it back, I look further to another one. And another after that. Each made of the same material, yet all containing different content. I use my thumb to quickly swipe my finger from the bottom of the stack to the top and listen as they fall on top of one another. As they fall on top another, they create a that mimics a bird flapping its wings. Quick, but mesmerizing. 

    After detailed inspection of the inside and the sheets surrounding it, I turn it to the side and notice something peculiar. Though I have taken the outer casing apart, it is somehow still held together. The binding that is keeping it from falling apart is yellow and sticky  to the touch. It was clear that this particular item was used many times. If this was used by one or by many is an answer I cannot provide. However, by simply peeling back the first layer I can see how much this thing had once meant to someone. As it appeared to have been torn in places and folded in others. Various signs of constant use by whoever had once owned it. As I slowly begin to rip apart each sheet, it appears that each one was attached separately, as none appear connected to one another. With a bit more observance, its clear that not each sheet had been attached one by one. With more than one hundred thin sheets, its clear that they were attached in sections of at least fifty together in one. This increased the effectiveness in tearing it apart. 

Though I had no idea who this once belonged to, why it was used so often, or the general purpose of it, something felt very wrong about tearing it to pieces. Besides the weight of this object, something about this object felt very important. Therefore, I decided to piece it back together and set it aside to revisit another day.