As the seconds go by

The dogs are sleeping

The birds are chirping

My throat and skin is on fire

The frigid air freezes your breath like smoke in the wind

The kettle boils, hissing and screaming like a mad woman

The tea leaves come to life as the steaming water enriches them

You glance out at the shadows and sun, an unfamiliar setting that you’re all too familiar with

I submerge my head under water and count the seconds as they go by