Ripples of Laughter

~DONOVAN~

Laughter pulls me from sleep, a sound so foreign in my life that it jerks me awake instantly. My eyes snap to the bedside clock: 7:30 AM. I never sleep this late.

I throw the covers off and make my way to the living room, still groggy. It's empty, but the front door stands slightly ajar.

The laughter continues from outside…a woman's melodic tones mixed with a child's excited squeals.

Fol