Little Girl 2

I settle down to sleep knowing that the little girl is now safe.

Gradually I become aware of voices in our room. As my eyes become accustomed to the grey light I realise that there is also a middle-aged couple in a double bed on the other side of the room near some large windows.

The woman seems larger and more forward than her husband who sounds as if he is hen pecked. She is complaining too loudly to him about other people being in the same room as them and it is obvious that she is not happy.

Eventually I can bear it no longer: I sit up in bed and angrily shout “Look, if you don’t want us here just say and we will leave – OK!”

“Oh no, no, no we didn’t mean you, it’s ok we don’t want you to leave” says the woman as she comes over to the bed and sweeps me up in her arms (much as I did with the little girl).

She sits on my bed hugging and rocking me gently back and forth. She keeps on holding and holding, I want to break free and say “OK! ENOUGH!” but I find that I do not have the will to break free of her grasp.

All of my energy departs, I hang limp and inert within her arms: I remain locked in that eternal, copious embrace.