After the forever-long night of fitful, growling churn, the clouds relented and cracked wide open. Morning light burst forth, shoving aside the remnants of the storms that were. Somber grays mingled with inky darkness and green made way for a delirious mix of reds and purples, pink and palomino.

From the room’s furthest corner, she sensed the change and tentatively joined him at the bay window. Arms still crossed, eyes puffed red, faces creased from exhaustion, hurt, and resignation, they stood feet apart. Miles apart.

Sunshine newly born bathed the distant mountains then spilled into the valleys below. They watched in numbed silence as the storm clouds retreated, hoarse voices squelched by the wonder of it all.

The glow expanded, swimming across the valley, lighting up tree after tree, street after street. In concert, successive waves of birds celebrated a bright new day, filling the air with a song with no yesterdays and no tomorrows, the preceding turbulence already a faded memory.

As the darkness receded, a once familiar warmth caressed their faces. This world, their world, previously reduced to black and white, progressively revealed itself in vibrant technicolor.

The light swelled before them and played across their yard, the grass flushing a forgotten green, flowers appearing where they thought there were none.

Miles apart became yards apart became feet apart became—

A brilliant radiance flooded their home—warming their skin, warming their hearts, as one small hand reached for the other.