O'er the Dales Chapter 3
3 It was a beautiful clear morning and Walter woke up to the feeling that something new was in the air. He felt it yesterday watching his daughter and again, this day upon waking. What was the cause of these inner ponderings, Walter wondered. Anxiety? Getting older? A shift in his spirit, maybe? Walter felt for Alice, and the bed next to him was no longer even warm. He rolled himself over onto his side, dangled his legs over the edge of the bedside, and then sat up with his feet just resting on the floor, as if they too, were hesitant to start the day. He eventually stood up and walked over to the window to crack it open a bit. Being a creature of habit, he started each day the same way as the day before: crack open the window, splash his face with water, run a comb through his hair, get dressed, and head downstairs. Usually Alice was there to visit with him, but not today. This morning was different. Walter had a good, long look at himself in the mirror and sighed a little....