Chapter 10
A few hours later its early evening and mum has been asleep for a couple of hours.
I'm so relieved that she finally got the rest she needed.
It's my turn to look after her now. Even if it is just playing look out.
I'm sat on a chair by the window. I promised her I wouldn't leave the room so I'm occupying my time with some magazines.
Honestly, I don't see the obsession with seeing terrible pics of celebrities as front-page news at all interesting. Fashion looks like it’s taken a nose dive into 'Panem' and apparently my star sign means that my career will take off if I specialise in electronics.
I throw the magazine down and look out the window.
The sun has set and it's dark outside with the slightest flicker of dark blue sky in the distance.
The village is totally still. Most houses are dark with no lights on and with no street lights either it's almost pitch-black outside.
Once again, I have the feeling of being watched.
I have the lamp next to me on and I can make out my outline in the glass of the window.
Through it I see something move on the roof of the church.
I lean forward and cup my hands around my face to get a better look.
It's a big bird. Maybe an owl? It's staring right at me.
Its eyes glow bright white through the darkness.
It's gaze holds my own until moments later it stretches its huge wings and flies off into the night.
I watch the empty blackness that it flew into for a while before closing the curtain and leaning back into my chair.
That was the biggest bird I think I've ever seen. It's wing span must have been at least 10 feet wide. Must have been some sort of native Scottish bird or something.
I sit in silence for a while. The only sound that of my mums slow, deep breathing. My eye lids grow heavy and I sink further into my chair.
*