Before the World Wakes
When the fall came, early mornings brought fresh cool crisp air.
The smell of damp earth and dew on the grass with a faint woodsy scent of the leaves beginning to turn. It was Ryan’s favorite time to run besides the summer mornings. He loved how the brisk autumn air cleared his head and filled his lunges with clean chilling air.
After thinking it over, Lindsey decided she wanted to start running. Not because she had to. Not because someone told her to. It’s because she saw her dad do it every morning like clockwork. He’d be out the door before the sky was awake.
Lacing up his old running shoes, drinking the rest of his coffee and disappearing into the quiet. She used to think it was too early to run but she wanted to spend time with her dad.
It was a Sunday morning, still wrapped in sleep and curiosity, she poked her head into the kitchen and surprised her dad with a request.
“Can I come with you in the mornings?”
He paused, coffee halfway to his lips, eyebrows raised in surprise.
“Are you serious?”
She nodded.
“You sure? It’s early, like…before sunrise early.”
She nodded again and said, “I’m sure, plus I’m already up.”
Her dad smiled, and slid a banana across the counter.
“Eat this. We leave in ten.”
Ten minutes came around, she was ready.
Hoodie on, laces doubled knotted, yawning but determined.
They started slow, Lindsey’s steps uneven, legs like spaghetti after a couple blocks. Her breath came in short bursts and her sweatshirt was suddenly too warm.
“You okay?” Dad asked.
“ I think my lungs are giving out.” She wheezed.
“Good. That means they’re working.”
He grinned and slowed to a walk beside her.
“It will get easier the more you run.” her dad added.
They didn’t finish their route that morning but that was okay.
So it began.
They went out again two days later, and again after that. Soon, months went by.
Their runs became a rhythm- their own quiet ritual before the world got loud.
Each morning, they ran the same quiet streets, watched the sky change colors, and they shared small things they might’ve missed in the rush of the day. School stuff, silly thoughts, and a few quiet worries.
Sometimes they ran fast. Sometimes they walked. Sometimes they just ran in silence; Only listening to the songs of the birds waking up.
Sometimes they even raced to the mailbox just to see who still had energy left.
They started calling it their, “mile time.”
-a mix of movement and meaning.
One morning after a particularly long run, both out of breath, they found a bench on the trail they were on to rest a moment. After catching her breath, Lindsey says,-
“I think…I get why you do this now.”
Still out of breath himself, he asks, “Oh yeah?”
“It’s not just working out, it’s the quiet time. To breathe in this fresh air. I always feel good after I run too.”
He nodded in agreement.
“It’s my favorite time of the day too.” She added.
Her dad put his arm around her and said, “I look forward to our mornings together.”
They ran rest of the way without saying much-
Just shoes hitting the pavement.
The miles weren’t about the speed or the distance.
It was about showing up. Together.
Just a dad and his daughter running towards something good.
-The End.
