The River Awakens

#hellohalloween The first light over Clonmel has a softness that’s hard to describe. At Minella, it hits the river just right — the surface starts to shimmer, and the reflection of trees grows brighter by the minute. I watched the town wake from a distance, hearing faint church bells mix with birdsong. The air smelled fresh and earthy, the kind of scent that reminds you you’re far from cities. By the time breakfast began, I’d already walked a quiet mile by the water, feeling like the day had gifted me an hour of peace before the world stirred.