I ran. I jumped over tairs t a time, lost my footing and lunged at t. I grasped at a umbled, saved myself and lurc at my clotimes as my feet scrabbled tritus of the broken house.

    At last, inevitably, I craso the ground, and a wild cry escaped my lips.

    ‘Oartle you? Oh dear.“

    I stared back the archway.

    Leaning over t ton or monster of my imaginings, but a giant. airs, stepped daintily and unconcernedly to stand over me most concern on his face.

    ‘Oh my goodness.“

    -four or -five, and  to shrink around him.

    ‘I never meant… You see, I only t… Because you’d been time, and… But t doesn’t matter no?“

    I felt reduced to t for all  dimensions, too,  oo plump for ly around acles. transparency.

    I must oo, per by my side and took my .

    ‘My, my, t e a tumble you took. If only I’d… I s high. hmm.“

    My singing. I reaco investigate a tear in trousers, and my fingers came away bloodied.

    ‘Dear, o’s t? Is it broken? Can you move it?“ I , and ture of relief.

    ‘tay t get te.“ And off .  danced delicately in and out of tly up tairs, o te footwork going on below.

    I took a deep breated.

    ‘I’ve put ttle on,“ urned. It -aid kit e , and ook out an antiseptic lotion and some gauze.

    ‘I al  in t old place one of t for years. Better safe tinging pad against my cut s’s be brave, shall we?“

    ‘Do you ricity here?“ I asked. I was feeling bewildered.

    ‘Electricity? But it’s a ruin.“ ared at m