Play Book Tag discussion

Lucy is having to spend weeks in hospital after an unexpected reaction to a simple operation. For one of those weeks, Lucy's mother, who she hasn't seen for years, comes to visit and basically sits beside Lucy all day and night. During the waking hours the two talk about trivial things while in Lucy's head she's remembering details from her childhood which she can't bring up to her mother.

This story is written very cleverly. Lucy isn't quite bed-bound but she's bored and lonely. Her husband and daughters don't visit often and she's pathetically grateful for any kindness shown her, pretty much completely by strangers. I really felt for Lucy because her life as an adult is still ruled by her poverty-stricken and abusive childhood yet she still loves her mother and is desperate for any crumbs of affection from her.