— DAWN HAD JUST MADE ITSELF KNOWN as agnes stepped outside the door of her home, content smile on her face as the silence the was spread across town welcomed her. this was her favourite time, the moments before the whole town woke up. then it felt as if she had it all to herself, that it was made just for her.
the streets were familiar, the worn down paths leading into the forest even more so. that’s where she was headed, but a figure in front of her made her pause. she startled, bemused that someone other than herself had chosen to take a walk in the early morning light. “oh, you surprised me,” she said, small and tentative smile cautiously placed on her face. “i didn’t know that anyone else would be up this early.”










