Phoenix

He awoke with a stir. The cold winter air crept its way inside his cabin and chilled his bones. His joints groaned and creaked as he crawled out of his bed and struggled to open the stiff curtains. Outside, snow fell like ash, darkening the morning. A solemn silence filled the air; the only movement was snow falling on the barren ground. He slowly turned and began shuffling to the kitchen. His feet dragging on the ground served only to amplify the silence.

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As he sat on his porch, a soft smile passed across his face. The sun had just crested the horizon…