DAWN WILL RISE 

By Tessa Harvey

    Sally looked out of the window. The street was very ordinary - footpaths up and down, mostly navigable, hedges or fences dividing properties, lace curtains or blinds - mostly blinds these days.
    She saw Ella next door, trying to struggle out to the letterbox, holding both twins. They were crying. About to turn away, she had a sudden thought: "Why don't I help?" There was no real answer, so out she marched purposefully. "May I help?" she asked politely, having navigated her unmown lawn and part-dying hedges.
    The young woman's-tired face lit up briefly, then she frowned. "You don't have to," she mumbled feeling ashamed.
    Sally decided to be honest. "I have been sitting in sulkpotland for several months. My husband has left."
    "Oh," the twins stopped crying, fascinated by a new face - identical stares. Ella passed one baby to Sally, too tired to put up a fake defence. "Just stay close. One day they will be glad of their own space, but not today! No way!"
    Sally laughed for the first time in weeks. There was only junk mail in the battered letterbox but it did not matter. Each had found a friend.

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