Quietly, I sat reading my book, lost in the imagery the words portrayed in my mind. Turning the crisp white page the door flew open startling me. Snapping my head up to see who was disturbing my alone time, stood in the doorframe was Jenny. Her face was a beetroot and her breathing was like a dog panting after chasing a ball. The wild look in her eyes sent shivers down my spine.

“Jenny! What on earth is the matter?” I exclaimed

“He, he, he….” Stuttering, Jenny tried to tell me.

I, I, l saw a g, g, gun!” Her arms were flailing windmill like.

“P, p, p, police everywhere!”

“Jenny calm down, take a breath and gather your thoughts, then try again.” I calmly said.

One deep breath, then another and another. The redness slowly reduced as Jenny gathered herself. I made her take a seat in the brown arm chair I had been sat in and gave her a drink of cold water. A few minutes passed as I stood looking at Jenny waiting for her to settle her excitement.

“I went to the shop to get some milk” slowly she recited what she had seen.

“A man behind the till had a gun and I saw a person on the floor” she started to become panicked again and was on the verge of hyperventilating. I put my hand up to stop her talking but she continued regardless.

“I heard the police sirens outside and ran out.” Violent sobs escaped her as she slowly went into shock and the adrenaline rush subsided.

I put my arms around her and let her cry.