Lingering between sleep and wakefulness, she savours that moment when light starts to pierce her eyelids, before reality dawns.

The drapes, stirred by the breeze, create flickers of light and then shadow.

She listens, hearing only her own gentle, rhythmic breathing.

Disruption, when it comes, is sudden, loud, cruel: MUM!!!

Jean enjoys writing short stories now that the birds have flown and she has more time. She would welcome a return of the disruption, though!