Unexpected splashes from fish in the canal, breaking the melodic rustle of palm fronds as they rub past one another in the breeze. Slight chill in the air after a heavy rain, the angry sky now assuaged, resulting in calm night. Thirst of tough, spiny grass quenched, droplets hanging on tough leaves. Periodic gusts of wind bring down sprinkles from the swaying trees, shaking off the wet like dogs after a bath. I breathe in the humid yet cool night air, sitting in the dark, and letting my soul rest before a chaotic morning ahead. I snuggle under a blanket that smells like my moms laundry detergent- making me comforted & sad at once. I long for our home, our space, our friends- yet also reel at this time ending, flying thousands of miles away from my parents, back to the daily grind of life. Therein lies the balance of it all. I’m grateful for this time yet grieve its end. I allow myself space for both feelings.