I climbed into bed and closed my eyes. It was strange how easy sleep came. That was something I thought I would struggle with what with everything my mind was doing, the endless obsessing and thinking and worrying. But each night I lay down and listened to the now familiar noises of the house. The faraway creaking and banging. I had become accustomed to the clanking I heard. They were just part of the house and I had grown to be comforted by them and they now played their part in lulling me to sleep.

I wasn’t sure what I was experiencing at first, was it a dream? There was light and it was harsh and bright. Was I dead? Had I died in my sleep? Was the baby okay? Was I in labour? In the few moments it took for me to come round, all of these thoughts had already been processed.

As I started to come round from sleep I struggled to get to my phone and look at the time. It was 2.36 a.m. The light was on in the room and Annie was standing in front of the bed.

Stark naked.

I sat up, suddenly petrified. I pulled the duvet over my body.

‘Annie, what are you doing!’ I yelled. Annie didn’t reply. She just stood still, her stare burning through me.

Then a memory returned to me. That Christmas night when Annie walked in on me in the bathroom. She had been sleepwalking. I leant forward and looked at her. She looked like she was in the same sleep-like trance as she had been that time. It was eerie to watch but I took a few moments to examine Annie in her most vulnerable state. She wasn’t fat. There weren’t rolls of flab hanging from her waist or thighs. Her skin was surprisingly taut for a woman in her sixties. I cast my eyes across her body. I was startled to see bruises on her arms and legs. On her left arm she had three bruises next to one another in a neat row. I got out of bed feeling a slight chill on my arms. Annie had already turned and was headed back towards the door. I thought I should follow her to make sure she got back safely. In the hallway her whole body was illuminated by the ceiling light and I watched each bottom cheek rise and fall as she walked slowly back to her room. Annie arrived at her bedroom and I stopped abruptly behind her.

That was when Annie turned round and looked directly at me, her nose inches from mine. I took a sharp intake of breath and stepped backwards. Annie turned back to face her door, walked through it and even shut it after herself. I stood for a few minutes taking it all in. Then I waited a few minutes more. I was intrigued to see what Annie was doing on the other side of the door, but I was terrified of what I might find. I tentatively approached the door and opened it as slowly as I could. The light was still on and there was Annie underneath the duvet. I crept over and listened for breath. I’m not sure why, it was a strangely maternal act. I heard the steady rhythmic breathing so I stepped backwards, turned out the light, left the room and padded back down the hall to my room, turning off the hall light on the way.