Eyes still closed. Touching on the verge of consciousness, my brain changes frequency and leaves Dreamtime FM. It tunes into the velvety soft sounds of pre-dawn and its hangers on.

The soft breathing of the woman sharing my bed; I feel the heat from her body against my still legs. The metrical ticking of the central heating pipes as it fights against the cold of winter hugging the walls. A blackbird calls.

My body is warm and I am cocooned in a tangle of duvet; its tightness somehow comforting, like being held as a child.

This time is special.

Troubles that stalk the vertical hours are forgotten. A mind cleaned of worry by slumber.