SUDDENLY (23/09) : A CACOPHONY +1 OF SHATTERED SOUND PIERCED THE STILNESS OF NIGHT, abruptly rousing me from restful slumber. The al, anomalous noise quickened my pulse and kept my mind alert. Despite efforts to shield my ears and return to a momentarily comforting dream, the persistent reverberation continued, fracturing the once—familiar, soothing quietude of night. With each passing moment, the challenge to close my eyes intensified, blending curiosity and apprehension into an unrelenting disquiet, rendering peaceful sleep a fleeting illusion.