Its Funny How Quickly Normal Can Change

I stepped out of bed onto the warm, furry mat, feeling the soft texture rubbing between my toes. I straightened up and took one slow step forward, then another and another until I reached my bedroom door. I reached for the handle, turned and pulled. The door opened inwards and stepped confidently through. My feet found the stairs and I began a gradual descent. I reached the bottom all too quickly and began to pass through the kitchen, flinching at the icy touch of cold tiles. I breathed a sigh of relief and my feet hit carpet again, the furry feel of it was comforting. I was in the lounge room. I made my way over to the couch.

This is where I woke up, sprawled exhaustedly on the couch after another night of sleepwalking. I heard sounds of movement from the kitchen, my Mum was already up. I yawned and she appeared in the doorway of lounge room with a frying pan full of cooked eggs in one hand. "How did you sleep" she asks and then hesitates "if sleep is the right word" she finishes. "Same old same old" I whisper, exhausted after my nights adventure.

My names Sophie, I’m fourteen and besides my nightly expeditions, lead a pretty normal life. I go to school, have a sister, a brother and parents. My Dad works late and is then gone in the morning, my Mum does not officially work, although she says "it’s enough of a job cleaning up after you lot". My best friend Amy lives a block from me and we treat each other’s houses as second homes. We have family barbecues; our Mum’s go shopping together, and when my Dad is not working (not very often) our Dad’s go to footy matches together. A pretty normal life. Its funny how quickly normal can change.