It was crazy to think that she'd achieved so much in so little time, but she knew the work had taken its toll on her. She decided to take a break while it was still light out. A chance to let her sore muscles relax, while drinking in the beautiful surroundings of her rural retreat. Once she put her head down and started to write, she might not be able to resurface until the resolution to her fictional couple's troubles had presented itself, and by then it would be too late to head out. Plus, she'd run out of cookies and eggs, necessitating a trip to restock. The skies overhead were grey as ever when she stepped out of the cottage, and the wind rustled against the remaining leaves on the trees all round. Fortunately, because Clarice had access to her rental car, the weather did not worry her. Walking might have been healthier, but the village with its tiny store was so far off, it would be less of a walk and more of a hike to get there and back.
