Dawn ......

His physical organic structure was still asleep but lay like a carcass. The ravens had not dared to come close to him though they were there in sight far off. He woke up in a disquieted state perplexed by the sudden rush of anxiety running through his veins. He could still feel himself running on wet grass, miles without tiring but with sweats of fear clearly dropping on his creased forehead. He could feel the sun coming out from a distance and he wanted to leap across the barbed fence to reach it like a phoenix for its ultimate glory. He could still feel the grass, the wet soil and the rain. He got up like a sudden storm without any purpose. His heart was running at 110 beats. He sat quiet for a moment. It was still dark outside.

He reached for the bed lamp. The uncomfortableness of the obscured artificial light made him switch it off again. The sky by now had started to transform itself into a murkish blue and he could feel himself relaxed for a moment. He got up, still in his shorts. He searched for the packet of cigarettes that he did not remember where he had last kept the night before. He finally managed to find it on the book shelf in the far corner of the room.

Sam lighted his cigarette with one stroke of an efficient hand that required no training, and stood in his old balcony looking blankly at the sky. The sky was a distinct blue now. Light like a parasite had started spreading uncontrollably. It’s just that all parasites do not come with vices, he thought. Trees upon trees were now visible over the mountain peak that he could see from his balcony. He was midway through his cigarette. He waited patiently as the buildings across the city started showing up. There was still a serene calmness surrounding the air. He could still feel the wet air. Perhaps it had rained the night before. He could now see the wet grass with dews bundled on each strip waiting for the winds to blow them away. It indeed had rained the night before.

He could see the sun peep a little over the mountains. There now was a tinkle of golden tinge across the horizon celebrating their liberation from the black cloaked frosty night. Slowly it gained a trenchant orange texture and then scattered across the sky-line like fire. The day had begun ……….. Sam felt relieved ...... he could feel blood running through his arteries again as he lighted another cigarette .......

…………… dawn had finally arrived to cover up his scars of the night.