At first, all I could hear were the crickets and cicadas,

It’s quiet out in the country,

no traffic noise or neighbors,

Just dense darkness and a vast sea of silence.

Lying there in my twin bed, surrounded by stuffed animals and dolls

The low rumble of his voice drifted up to my bedroom.

Mother’s soft reassuring murmur the chorus to his lead.

Their double bed sighed,

as they talked over the business of being married.

Night took over, I drifted off to sleep,

Enveloped in love and the knowledge

that the two people who created me,

Were just below

Where they had always been,

keeping me safe.