A few extra minutes.

A thin white string of fog woven between the trees.

The sense of peace brought on by the rain and the darkness. For every up, a down. For every down, an up.

Clean.

I manage to get dinner into the Instapot before I have to leave, which feels like a major feat compared to the last few weeks.

I ask him if he’s joking or being serious. I’m just not used to hearing this kind of compliment from a teacher for them.

But it doesn’t feel like we’re winning.

If we could take the energy of one and combine it with the skill of the other…

A double-cheeseburger with grilled onions, add ketchup and mustard. Yes, keep the secret sauce, too.

Yes. One day, I’ll sleep again.