The Guests

The golden rays of the rising sun cast shades of surprise on Clara in the morning, beginning with Karen Seattle's arrival with the other assistants who had once been her colleagues.

It was an awkward visit of course, for both the patient and the callers who had come with a bunch of flowers, crowding her room which had been converted to a hospital in three days.

She sat up when she saw them, surprised and confused about what to say. Although they had fallen into an understanding along the line, it had been strictly professional and she had always had to put up a font of perfection before them. But today, she lay barely able to lift her arm, her body weakened as well as her heart.

It was Karen who spoke as soon as Guinevere had received the flowers on her behalf. Sophie and Brenda left earlier that morning to catch up with the work they had missed.

"Word got round that you weren't feeling alright so, we came to see how you are doing."

Clara didn't know how to feel at that moment; guil