the sky was still that deep, quiet blue that comes right before morning decides to show itself. everything felt paused in that in-between moment, like the world was holding its breath. the air was cool enough to settle against your skin, and somewhere in the distance you could hear the faint rush of water and wind moving lazily through the trees.

sam stood a little ways from you at first, leaning his forearms against the railing. his hair was still a little messy from sleep and the sleeves of his hoodie were pushed up like he hadn’t even noticed doing it. he’d insisted on dragging you out here before dawn, something about not wanting you to miss it this morning. now he just looked out toward the horizon like he was waiting for something he already knew was coming.

the first thin line of light slipped over the edge of the world, barely there at first. soft gold started bleeding slowly into the dark blue sky, stretching wider by the second. it touched the clouds and turned them pale pink, then brighter, until the whole horizon began to glow.

sam noticed it the second it started. his posture shifted, straightening a little without him thinking about it. after a moment he stepped closer to where you were standing, his shoulder brushing lightly against yours like the space between you had just naturally closed.

for a while he didn’t say anything. he just watched the light spread across the water, eyes following it as it climbed higher. there was something quieter about him like this, calmer than he usually let himself be.

after a moment he glanced sideways at you, a small smile tugging at the corner of his mouth before he looked back out at the horizon again.

“told you it was worth waking up for.”