Before the Dawn

The initial ray fell on the roofs and no one had yet said a word. It was soft as though they did not want to disturb the long house with their sleeping. Frost hung on to the pieces of the window. Breath came soaring out in slender clouds out of each mouth which sleeps. There was an hour when time seemed very quiet around them, tender and tolerant.

Annabelle woke first. She did not move at once. Dani lay cuddled up against her, her little hand on her coat. Axel was lying ...