Spring.

Like winter, it came gradually, melting away the frost with a slow, gentle sweep of its fingers across the land. Birds called from trees sprouting green leaves, and the air, gilded with sunshine and kissed with a breeze, tasted richer. I drew it in deep and smiled, though the corners of my mouth pinched.

I'd been waiting for this day for months, had been counting down to it while the world had repeatedly crushed me down. Yet somehow I was still upright, ...