
quiet yet persistent knocking woke me from yet another dreamless sleep. Forcing my old, aching joints out of bed I pulled my robes around me and started out of my bed chamber and as quickly as I could manage towards my chamber door.
'Yes, yes, I’m coming. Be patient with an old man.' Aged fingers struggled with the door mechanism until eventually I was met with a young girl with elfin features and short dark hair.
'Are you ready for our walk, Grandfather?' Phrased as a question the glint in her eyes told me that she would only accept one particular answer.
'Do you enjoy bothering an old man at this time of the day, hmm?' Just what time of the day was it? I’d lost all sense of time recently and I used to place so much importance in it.
'It’s nearly midday, Grandfather and you promised me a walk outside the city.' There was going to be no putting her off it would seem.
'Very well, child, wait here will I gather myself together.' So persistent, just like her Grandmother. My eyes lingered on a single white flower in the corner of my chambers as I slowly changed into my walking robes and walked back over to the door to collect my walking staff as quickly as my aching legs would allow. The door opened easier this time to reveal my visitor exactly where I had left her, I offered her my arm and we set off through the sterile and polished corridors. How claustrophobic they seemed now.