"A New Day"

Julie E. Miller

2003

It’s still dark out, when my eyes first open. My body is tired and feels heavy from the lack of sleep. However, I find my legs slinging over the side of the bed and my feet land upon the plush carpet of the room. I don’t change out of my shorts and tank top, but I put on a blue hooded sweatshirt, tugging it over m y head, then place my hands in the front pocket.

I head downstairs, trying to be as quiet as I can. I did this every morning, everyday. Habit, if you will. Opening the back door, I stepped into the last few minutes of twilight. I quietly shut the door, then walk down the back steps.

My toes hit the cool sand. It’s warmer today than it has been in awhile. It’ll be a hot one, living along the beach all seventeen years of my life enabled me to figure these things out. Digging my toes into the sand briefly, I glance down the beach, then begin my walk to the sea.

The beach begins to wake up as I reach the edge of the water. The magic has yet to begin and anticipation swirls in my stomach. The cool morning water flows over my feet as one by one, waves crash into the shore.

It’s this time where I clear my mind. Every morning I’m alone until He arrives. It’s in this time that I clear my head and just take everything in.

As the waves continue rolling, the sun begins to appear at what seems like the edge of the world. Then, suddenly, the sky looks like an abstract painting done up in bright oranges, reds, and pinks. They were splashed not only across the horizon, but also across the entire sky. I caught myself holding my breath.

A door opens behind me; I hear it shut. I look towards the noise and find Him heading out the door, towards me. He was eighteen and has been my neighbor since I was born. He’s become such a part of this ritual, that if I close my eyes, I can see him. Whether it be his tousled brown hair or the sleepy grin on his face and in his eyes…He was a key element in this.

However, this morning was different. The bounce in his step was a bit bouncier. His smile was a bit wider. Something was up with my best friend, but I had no idea what.

Turning back to the sunrise, I wait for him to stand beside me. However, he doesn’t. I nearly jump, in fact, when his arms wrap around me. I turn my head and try to look at him. He’s staring straight ahead, a faint glimmer of a smile on his lips. So I give up trying to read him, and look back at the sea. He rests his head on top of mine….and there we stand, together, in silence, but content.

When the colors of the sky fade away, I pull myself out of his arms and head for my house.

"Wait," I hear him call.

Turning around, I find him running towards me.

When he joins me, he pulls me to him and his lips land on mine softly. I’m surprised. We’ve only ever been friends all these years. But when we pull apart, he gives me a shy grin.

"Good morning," he whispers, then heads for his house.

When his screen door slams shut behind him, I finally move.

Oh yes, a very good morning indeed.

2003