FLOOD 

By Tessa Harvey

    Sylvia woke up suddenly in the night. It would be her birthday today she thought, feeling a little excited even though she was an adult. But everyone had been so warm towards her yesterday when she had helped her young brother .
    Seriously, she had expected them to still be annoyed she had damaged both herself and her car driving too fast on narrow icy roads, but meeting her real father had been wonderful.
    And Theo had come and asked her if she could share her real dad with him. "Mine is very nasty," he had whispered solemnly. "I know I really annoy you, Sylvie, but I am trying hard to do better." 
    At one time, not too long ago, she would have been unpleasant and dismissive. Now, aware of her own shortcomings and frailties, she was able to be a little more sensitive, and loving.
    But why was she awake? Suddenly she felt really cold and strangely disoriented. "Oh well," she thought, " I would just go to the toilet and find another blanket. I hope mum and Theo are warm enough." 
    She slid out of bed into cold, flowing water.

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