The Clearing Winds

An old woman sits in her old house in the dark. The curtains are drawn against the light; this is her protection and her shadow world where night and day become the same and neither matters any more.

Thus it has been, and so she thought it would remain forever; but on this day, there is a knocking on the door, and when this is isn't answered, someone just comes storming in regardless - it is a young girl, a long lost niece, come to the rescue.

Like an irresistible wind of youth, she sweeps into the old woman's darkness, pulls open the curtains, throws open the windows - the clearing winds rush into the room, into the house; outside, spring has begun.