The Morning the Refrigerator Door Stayed Open

5:57. The curtains push in the morning light little by little. Outside the covers it's still cold. She comes to the kitchen and opens the refrigerator door. White light and cold air brush past. She takes out the half-bottle of milk and holds it to her nose. It expired yesterday, but it doesn't smell bad enough to stop her. Too good to throw away, too iffy to drink. For now she puts it back in the refrigerator and fills the kettle. The sound of water boiling fills the kitchen. She brews coffee and, after hesitating, pours in a little milk. The color softens. A few drops spill, and even so, the morning gets off to a fine start. Sipping the coffee, she looks toward the window. A sparrow passes along the sill. The refrigerator door is still open. Cold air brushes the tops of her feet, and she decides to leave it.