Where Dawn Finds Me

There’s something about waking up before the sun that makes me feel like I’ve stolen time from the universe. The world is still, the air is cool, and even my phone seems quieter, as if it knows not to interrupt. I lace up my shoes in the dark, as to not wake up my roommate, the rhythm of the laces snapping against themselves keeping me awake.

It’s not easy, my body wants to stay curled up under the covers, hidden from the alarm clock’s cry, but the first step outside makes it worth it. The sky is washed in that in-between color, not night, not morning, and for a moment, I feel like the only person alive.

Before the rush of lectures, readings, and endless notifications, there’s this pause. A space where it’s just me, my breath, and the whisper of the day about to begin. I chase the sunrise, and somehow, it feels like I’ve already won.