The candle. It would be nearly out, if it wasn’t already. She tried to sit up, but it wasn’t happening. So she tried rolling over, which was more successful except that she couldn’t stop and ended up on the carpet, where she found herself stuck. She heard Auntie Susan’s footsteps thundering up the staircase. ‘Goodness gracious, Eve, what do you think you’re doing?’ said Susan brusquely, but her hands were kind and caring as she hoisted up her niece and deposited her back in bed. ‘I’ve got to go home,’ said Eve. ‘Whatever it is you think you have to go home for, it can wait,’ said Susan, lifting up one of the bottles of pills on the bedside table and unscrewing the lid. ‘I don’t know, I hardly see you for years and you’re in a hurry to get away from me. Anyone would think this was a remake of Misery. I might have to hobble you if you decide to escape again.’ Eve might have laughed at that had she not felt sick and as if someone had stolen all her bones and replaced them with jelly.
