Pamela read through the text message she’d just received and grimaced.  She hated being forced to make decisions before she felt she was ready and yet it seemed that that was what needed to happen.  Then she glanced at the clock and decided if she left immediately she would have time to get to the library before it closed.  Going to the library was not one of the things which her friend Deirdre would consider as a task for today, but Pamela had had enough of being told what she should be doing and if she fancied a library book to take her mind off things then that was what she was going to do.

She walked briskly down the road and arrived at the library feeling slightly out of breath; she would either have to take it more slowly on the walk back or take the bus partway.  At least she’d made it in time.  Hurriedly she walked to the shelves she wanted and after a quick look along them selected something she fancied.  And if it didn’t turn out as she expected she could always bring it back and borrow something else; no more feeling obliged to finish a book simply because she’d started it.

At the check-out she met one of the ladies from the Widows’ Club, who asked if she would be coming to the craft club the following afternoon.  In the past she would have said she was, believing it was important to support such activities, but now she said she wasn’t sure, she’d see if she felt like it tomorrow lunchtime.  The lady nodded and agreed there was only so much one could do.

Pamela caught the bus back and then, when she arrived home, she realised there was another text message.  This was from Carol, reminding her that she would need to go to the 9 o’clock service on Sunday as the 10.30 was a Family Service.  Pamela, tired of being told what to do, decided she would go to the Family Service.

Then she took out her phone, sent a text message to Adam, her son-in-law, saying she was switching her phone off for the evening, as she didn’t want him to worry if he couldn’t get hold of her, and switched it off.  She made herself a cup of tea, took a couple of biscuits from the tin and settled down with her library book.  No doubt Deidre and Carol wouldn’t approve, but she’d had quite enough of their opinions about what was her life not theirs.