The darkness lingered too long, a visitor that refused to depart, compressing its presence into every surface— the ceiling, the atmosphere, the heart. Thoughts coiled tightly in the corners, murmuring in the quiet, rehashing what could not be resolved. Even the clock appeared to tick with hesitance. Then— a gentle change. Not abrupt, but unmistakable. The soft light of dawn glided in, breaking the stillness. Light entered with gentle fingers, removing shadow from the space, casting golden hues upon the floor, reminding everything it had a form. Breath came more easily. The walls seemed to expand. The hours ahead felt less like steep cliffs and more like stable ground. It wasn't truly joy, but a loosening— a return to something familiar and bearable. ©️ James Michael 2025