The crisp morning light filtered into a modest, well-worn room, casting golden hues over its simple furnishings. Litty groaned, her eyes squinting against the unwelcome brightness. The weight of her mother's foot pressed against her face, a familiar intrusion that made her sigh. With a gentle push, she rolled her mother to the other side of the bed, who mumbled incoherently before settling into deeper sleep.
Stretching, Litty arched her back, a symphony of cracks rippling through her stiff muscles. The aches of yesterday's skirmishes lingered, but she brushed them aside. Crossing the room, she dipped a cloth into the cool water within a wooden bucket, wiping herself down in brisk, efficient strokes. The chill invigorated her, sharpening her senses for the day ahead.
