Just Before Dawn
Did you ever wake up before dawn, when the world is silent and still wrapped in a veil of darkness, just before the birds begin to rise and joyously announce the birth of a new day? I sit on my old, worn armchair in the bedroom and listen to the silence. I cherish that silence. My sleeping dogs’ serene breathing comforts me. I am semi-awake. I become aware of the occasional twittering of the birds as they begin to awake. At first, it is the sound of a bird or two, but soon they all untuck their little heads from under their wings.
This morning, I hear the sound of gently falling rain as well. The rain washes the dust from the foliage outside. It feels comforting. I shut my eyes and doze momentarily. The world is beginning to awake. A car drives by. It is not in a hurry. It seems to be almost apologetic. The skies begin to lighten up, yet the world still sleeps. I rise from the chair and return to my bed. I curl up in a comfortable position; I wrap myself warmly and listen to the gentle pitter-patter of the falling rain. The comforting sound lulls me back to sleep.