I GOT UP EARLY THIS MORNING. Eight-thirty and I was rolling out of bed, pulling back the covers behind me, fluffing the pillows and wiping my comforter smooth. I was hell bent on having a productive day—wide-eyed, motivated and action-packed.

So I prepared breakfast. I was the only one in the house (as with most mornings) and lost myself in the sounds of nothing: no voices, no footsteps, not even the sound of the heater. With the table set facing toward the eastern sun, I sat down to the day

.

It was delightful, but mostly

I was thinking of how much I wished there was someone sitting across from me.