In The House

Sipping her hot mug of tea, Jessica looked around the room waiting for inspiration to strike. A room full of memories that made it home, and she loved it fiercely. From the exposed stone feature wall, the mismatched sofas covered in fabrics she and Paul had collected on their travels, to the overly elaborate coal bin by the fire. A huge carved wooden monstrosity that belong in a stately home, not their 2 bedroomed cottage. Jessica turned her face to the fire, watching the flickering flames until a sudden gleam came into her eyes.

Placing her tea down on the rickety three legged table they had discovered in a car boot sale; Jessica watched as her fingers flew over the page. Ideas literally pouring from her pencil as she tried to capture the fleeting images on the paper.

When the images stopped flowing Jessica picked up her mug and looked over the pages. One of them caught her imagination, and Jessica's eyes glazed over as she saw the painting come to life in front of her.

Uncurling her legs, Jessica picked up her sketch book and pencils, and headed up both flights of stairs. The cottage was so small they had turned the stairs and hallways into a walk through library. Sometimes she imagined the pages rustled as she passed, whispering their words to her, asking to be read. The narrow flight of stairs opened into a loft that was now her studio.

Here they had made most of the tiny space and exposed the sky by an enormous skylight. She and Anna had spent many an hour watching the clouds drift by, making stories from the shapes or waiting for the brooding storm to hit the glass. She and Paul often lay side by side at midnight counting the stars in the sky. This was her sanctuary and it always made her smile. Imbued by her inspiration from downstairs Jessica danced around her studio, only stopping when she noticed Mr Tibbs watching with a disdainful eye. He yawned, showing his sharp teeth and claws then went back to sleep.

Tying her apron, Jessica prepared her canvas and paints, and was soon lost to the world. For Jessica painting was all consuming as she made the realm of fairyland come to life. She didn't notice the passage of time and was surprised back to reality by the sound of an alarm. She wiped her hands and untied her apron, it was time to collect Anna from school.

Jessica opened the front door onto a bright autumnal day. The sun was low in the sky picking out the red, orange and brown in the trees. The smell of coal fire was heavy on the air, wrapping itself around Jessica like a cosy blanket. Stepping out of the doorway the knot of dread began to unfurl in Jessica's stomach.

With each step the fear consumed her like the night creeping towards you as the sun set. Jessica hunched her shoulders; felt her limbs grow stiff and her hands curl into claws. She felt like glass, one touch and she would shatter. She shrank into herself and turned her gaze to the ground. The coal scented air, once a comfort became oppressive and her breathing grew ragged and heavy.

She reached the school gates and hung back from the crowd. Jessica barely moved her head in acknowledgement when Anna's best friends mum said hello. Then she let her hair tumble down across her face like a wall to keep out the world. She watched the ground and listened for the sound of children's feet and laughter.

There were quick footsteps and suddenly a tiny hand took hold of hers; Jessica was staring into the eyes of her daughter.. She knelt down and the small arms wrapped there way around her neck, and for a moment the terror subsided and she felt at home. She heard her daughter whisper 'well done mama'.

Jessica let her daughter lead her away from the school gate. She kept her eyes to the ground, safe behind her wall of hair. She heard her daughter laugh and wave goodbye to her friends as they walked away.

Each step lead them away from people and the threat of social interaction. A feeling of relief began to grow and Jessica felt herself begin to relax; her claws turned back into hands, her limbs began to flow and her head came up. Jessica took notice of the dancing autumnal colours. Their house came into view and for the first time Jessica could listen to the gentle prattle of her daughter as she describe her day. But it wasn't until they reached the front door, turned the key and stepped inside, that the all consuming fear that had taken hold of Jessica disappeared.

They were home, they were safe… in the house.