Silently, she sat in the dark room, listening to the sound of the rain, falling outside. It was not cascading down. This rain was not a harsh one. Untame was not how she would describe it. Wild was not an appropriate adjective, either. Rather, this rain was the opposite, she decided, as she listened to it gently tapping on the roof, above her. Like music to her ears, it was lulling her back into an early morning slumber. Calming, she decided, after racking her brain for the perfect word was the best way to describe the sound she heard. Yes.

Noises, certain ones, at least, are more harsh than others. Guns can be startling, for some listeners. Ammunition, interestingly enough, can both incite and dismantle fear, depending on the person and the circumstances. Bees, buzzing and bumbling about, can be relentlessly annoying. Deafness, even, can leave a constant ringing in the ear. Fire, crackling and generating heat, can make the most grounded folk startle with an unexpected pop. Honks, sounding from automobiles, can forewarn of anger and danger. Jolting noises can force you to either focus or lose your train of thought. Quick whistles, particularly familiar ones, can point you in the direction you need to go. Xerox machines, with their constant humming, can be maddening. Zippers, providing closure and protection, can be either calming or frightening, depending on whether you’re prepared for the fact that sometimes, they break, and like life, you may find yourself locked in, unable to breath, and yet, incapable of an escape.

Perhaps sitting in the dark room, listening to the calming sound of the noise, gently falling outside, was exactly what she needed to hear in that moment, before preparing for the day ahead of her. Often times, the boisterous booms she hears from the world outside are thunderous. Knowing that she had the opportunity to sit indoors, cozily curled up in a warm blanket, was the perfect way to start her day. Exciting was not how she would describe the sound she heard, as the moisture fell from the ominous sky above. Measured and careful was more accurate, in fact. Very pleasing and considerate, rather, was the rain.