I rolled over onto my side.

"Ugghhh." There was a shooting pain in my stomach. I curled into a ball, hoping it would hurt less. It didn't help. I sat up in bed, rubbing my middle. A gurgling noise rose up inside me. What time was it? It was dark in the room. I fumbled for the clock on the night stand. I held it up to my face and squinted in the dim light. It was nearly 3 a.m. I hadn't eaten since lunch.

I swung my legs over the side of the bed and quietly crept out into the hall. I silently descended the stairs.

"Owww!" I grumbled and grabbed my toe. I had managed to whack it against the door of the kitchen. Absently I made myself a chicken sandwich. Pushing back the curtains, I noticing the first rays of dawn beginning to grace the sky. Well, I was wide awake now and I decided to take my sandwich onto the porch and watch the sun rise. After all, this was probably the only chance I would get, seeing that I would never wake up this early by choice.

The Spanish tiles were cool under my bare feet and there was a light breeze in the air. It was incredibly quiet outside, something unusual for New York. Not even the birds were up yet. I breathed in deeply and gazed off into the horizon. Rays of pale pink and lavender were starting to streak the sky. I finished my sandwich and sat down on the steps. I really kind of liked being up at this hour. It was like a completely different world. Not only that, it was a private world, a place where I could be alone with my thoughts.