Stillness Beneath the Lights

Elsie, the white rescue boxer, enjoys a peaceful nap amidst the comforting familiarity of home, undisturbed by the New Year's fireworks outside.

The fireworks had just stopped on the TV when we woke up. Blinking, stretching. “Oh,” said the humans. “We missed it.” Happy New Year? Ta-da.

Truth is, we’d all fallen asleep. Even Elsie. Fireworks outside, bangs on the screen, and not one of us stirred. Why? Because we trusted the calm in the room. Russ didn’t fuss, didn’t flinch, didn’t wake us with worry. He led, quietly. So we rested.

At one in the morning, we blinked at each other, realised the “big moment” had passed, and went straight back to bed. A new year had started, and peace had started with it.

Charlie