Equlibalem

Floral prints replaced the red checked curtains in the kitchen.

'Mam? When did you change the curtains? ' Classy and overpriced. Not Mother's usual taste.

'I haven't.'

'Yes, you have.'

Barbara watches him with concern across the room, whilst preparing breakfast.

'No I haven't. The curtains have been there for years.'

The curtains had definitely been replaced.

Martyn knew. Sitting at the kitchen table most mornings, grazing on his jam and toast. On sunny days, he mused how the sun filtered through the curtains, turning the lighting of the room to apricot orange.

He also knew his mother never lied or played pranks. The mystery of the curtains unsettled him. But he didn't have time to investigate. He had a train to catch.

Serendipity sat next to Martyn on the train. His earplugs were in, he didn't notice her.

Martyn was Serendipity's first assignment.

She had originally attended the interview for the role of Angel of death assistant.

'It says on your resume that you were a wedding organiser before you passed over. Tell me more about your role?' Asked the interviewer.

'I organised wedding events for my customers. Every detail mattered ... no matter how trivial. Otherwise, the whole wedding could be ruined.'

'It says on your review, before you passed over, that you showed little interest in death or anything spiritual.'

'Weddings are spiritual .'

The interviewer nodded.

'We have another vacancy if you are interested ... It's an excellent way to gain experience. To start your career at Doomsday Towers.'

'Tell me more.'

A profile of Martyn pops up on the projector.

' Here we have Martyn Hadfield. A simple but lovely man A man of routine . Eat, work, sleep, repeat. Match on Saturdays. If you catch my drift. The issue is that he needs to be pushed into fully committing to his partner, Milly.'

'What about free will?'

'Sometimes free will is is futile. Martyn loves Milly, she loves him back. Milly is getting antsy about Martyn not fully committing. She's ready to end the relationship. He lives with Mother. Needs a bit of a push out of his comfort zone. If Martyn and Milly don't couple up soon, a series of events could be set in motion, causing the world to fall off balance; hence a possible world disaster. Your role is to push Martyn towards Milly. And quickly.'

When Martyn returned home that evening, the kitchen table had been replaced by an extravagant table his mother was banging up with a hammer. All the cosy furniture around the home had been rapidly swapped for modern interior. The kind Martyn hated. It was like his mother had been possessed by an interior designer demon-spirit.

A tear fell from Martyn's eye. He realised he would never experience the same morning orange light reflecting from the red checked curtains. Ever again.

Serendipity sat on a cushion by a stack of boxes. Anxiously watching. No one noticed her.

'Mam I have something to tell you, I have decided to move in with Milly.'