The smell of a city at 5am is always a little sad

I walked past a bakery on my way to the studio and the air was thick with burnt sugar and yeast—like someone had left a dream in the oven. The door was still locked, but I could see the shadow of a hand moving behind the glass, stirring something that wouldn’t be ready for hours. It made me think about how much work happens in silence, how few people notice the moments before the world wakes up. I stood there too long, just breathing it in. Then I remembered: I’ve been editing a film about a man who only ever worked nights. Coincidence? Maybe. But I didn’t feel like laughing.