Williams

I was jolted awake by the insistent blare of the alarm clock on my night stand. My eyes creaked open, the familiar morning light a harsh contrast to the comforting darkness of sleep. Instinctively, I reached out for the warmth that had become my morning ritual. But my hand encountered only the cool emptiness of the sheets. Hazel, whom I'd grown accustomed to waking up beside, was nowhere to be found. I peeked out one eye to search the room and everywhere was empty. I was disappointed ...