Rose winced as pale light spilled across her face. She yawned and stretched out her hands upwards. She felt stiff as a board; her shoulders were tight, and the left side of her neck hurt from sleeping in one position for too long.She slept on the bench with her head resting on her mother's bed. This has become a habit now. Rose had been doing this for the past week—the urge not to leave her mother alone, even for a moment, kept her sleeping in this manner.
Rose jumped as she realized her mother was looking at her with disapproval on her face.
"Mot'er," she called in shock. "You're awake? Did I oversleep?" Rose asked with a lighthearted laugh, but her mother's expression remained serious.
Rose yawned and looked around the room. Her father wasn't anywhere to be seen; he was either in the other room or outside the house. She knew he didn't go far anymore—always close by.
