In the realm between sleep and waking, she heard the sound of unlocking from outside the door. Norris Moore suddenly woke up, leaping from the sofa like a startled bird. "Who is it?!"
Her voice was somewhat hoarse and sharp, her throat ached as though it had been scrubbed with sandpaper.
The sound of the door opening outside paused for a moment, then a familiar male voice came from outside the door: "It's me."
Norris Moore relaxed all over, her hand brushed her sweaty forehead. Barefoot, she walked over to lock the door, then said to Rufus Swallow outside: "I'm going to change. You wait a moment."
Norris Moore selected a set of long sleeve pajamas from her closet, changed into them, then opened the door for Rufus Swallow. Under the delicate morning light, the tall and handsome man stepped in, carrying a cool breeze. Norris Moore stood by the door with a faint smile on her face: "Why did you come so early, is something up?"