I woke to three women standing over my bed. One by the window, one at the end of the bed, and one closer to the bathroom. They stood silently. As if they’d paused the moment I came to. The energy of the room crackled without words.

Porcelain statues looking down at me without word.

I woke again to an empty, dark room.

The lamp light didn’t cast their shadows. There were no shadows at all.