I awoke because of the instant stillness of my surroundings. It was six in the morning, but you wouldn't know it by looking outside at the pitch black sky. We didn't have the comforts of the golden Florida light that usually activates our busy mornings. I pushed back the covers and stepped onto the cold floor sending a chill straight up my spine. The low rumble of thunder grew louder and louder and I could feel the earth tremble. Dogs barked, cats hid in dark places, which weren't impossible to find, and people cringed at the violent blast of air that could bend the towering trees like miniscule twigs. Then almost instantaneously the patter of rain began to roar and it soon sounded like dangerous rushing rapids outside my window. All we could do was sit and wait for this savage tempest to terminate. We waited in the dark for a beam of hope which, unfortunately, never cam that day for when this nightmare ended, it was naturally gloomy. Although we had no golden gleam we knew we'd be o.k., and that's all that really mattered.