Cindy pulled her fuzzy robe on, tying the belt before sliding her feet into her warmest slippers. She shuffled to the kitchen and poured herself a mug of coffee which she carried with her to the covered back porch. “Josephine! Let’s go outside!” Cindy said as she held open the door for her little dog and the two of them traveled outside into the crisp Fall morning. Josephine toddled down the steps to do her morning business and Cindy dragged a chair close to the patio railing. She nestled into the chair, propping her feet up on the railing while cupping her warm mug of coffee with both hands. Josephine eventually makes her way back up the steps and settles down at Cindy’s side. Both of them sat there, peacefully staring out across the lake. It is too early out for most. The water is calm and still. The leaves have just begun to change colors and the water’s edge dances with the greens, reds and golds of the season. Cindy and Josephine can hear the honking first before seeing the flock of geese fly in for a landing near the dock next door. Josephine growls at the geese before settling back into her morning nap. Cindy smiles and rubs her foot on the top of Josephine’s head, taking a sip of her coffee.

Mornings had always been Cindy’s favorite time of day. She had always been an early riser and this allowed her access to the still quiet that can only be found in the first few hours of a new day. In those hours, Cindy had the earth all to herself. This was time for her and her alone. She often spent this time lingering over a cup of coffee while writing in one of her many journals. Since moving to the lake house, the routine fluctuates between writing and staring at the lake. Occasionally, a small fishing boat will float by. Cindy and the person fishing will exchange good mornings and then Cindy will spend the rest of the morning concocting a tale centered around the fisherman. Who he is. Why he fishes. What he’s fishing for. Who is waiting at home for him. Cindy paints a picture in her head that answers all of these questions and more. Sometimes she even writes that story down. This morning though, she is content to sit and be part of the stillness. It is late in the season and there are bound to be few boats out today at all. Her own boat has been covered and sits in the dry dock wrapped up for the coming winter. Very few people stayed or even visited their lake houses in the winter. This would be Cindy’s first winter at the lake, as the lake house was no longer just for vacations and rentals. She was curious and a little anxious to see what winter would be like here. Would there be snow? Ice? Both? She had already started a list of things to prepare. Generator. Gas tanks. Bulk food storage. Firewood.

They would be fine.

Cindy sipped her coffee while the others slept and dreamed that this was her real life.