Zoe had a moment, when the radio broke. When she lost the last of Daddy's favorite vinyls - guessed she had little chance to use the record player, anyway.

It was a bitter, tart, spurred thought both times. Livin' without family, friends, university, odd jobs, no nothing, now. Not even music.

Welcome to living to survive.

Then one night, she stood out in the marsh like the shadow of a doe, still and content among fireflies, rustling reeds, chirping crickets. Tranquil. Dreamlike. Belonging again.

And started on a heavy metal chord rattling the windows of the looming barn across the yard.


July 3rd. "Silence".