She stood by the kettle
at midnight, watching the
steam rise in the quiet
kitchen. The day had
left her without the
energy to sleep, a
restlessness humming
beneath her skin. She
had answered every email,
met every deadline,
smiled at every message.
Now, in the stillness,
there was only the soft
click of the heating
element and the weight of
being awake.
The kettle whistled. She
poured the water slowly,
letting the warmth fill
her palms. Nothing was
solved. But for one
minute, the world asked
nothing of her. That was
enough.