Sunrise - September 25, 2012

[note: this was written during a writing exercise: we had 20 minutes to write something inspired by the word "sunrise". This is the result, unedited, exactly as it appeared when time ran out. You can read all of them in the waves category]]

Sunrise- Squiddy Geiger - September 25, 2012

Ulrich listened to the silence, savouring it. No traffic, no honking horns, no shouting or yelling of angry passersby. There was noise, but it was natural and muted, and he was content to just lie there, listening.

The fire was out, he'd have to start it again, but that wasn't a problem. For now, he just enjoyed the approaching dawn, a few distant birds serenading him. The lean-to he'd made last night had protected him when it had rained, but the crisp mountain air was cool but free of rain now. Through the opening in the lean-to, he watched the horizon lighten, as dawn approached. This had always been his favourite time, as a new day was born.

The birds in the nearby trees awoke and start to reply to the more distant serenade, and a thin strip of orange appeared above the horizon, and grew imperceptibly as the sun approached, the strip widening to a band, the birdsong growing louder. In the increased light, his breath was visible now, vapours quickly dissipating in the air. He stayed snuggled in his sleeping bag, the cold air contrasting with the comforting warmth inside the bag.

In the distance, on the lake, a loon called, a beautiful haunting cry that always gave him shivers, even in summer. The world around him was awake now, and it was nearly time to get up, but he resisted, until finally the sun peeked over the horizon, a beautiful blazing, blinding yellow-orange. He unzipped the bag and rolled out, quickly pulling on his clothes. He prepped the wood and kindling in the makeshift fire pit, and watched the sunrise become daylight as he started the fire.

Sometimes at night, he missed the city. Then, as the sun rose, he remembered why he had left, and all thought of return to civilization was banished for another day.

Posted by Squiddy at September 25, 2012 09:05 PM | TrackBack