"Come." She heard the word snapped from the other side of the door after her timid knock.
Ashley didn't usually bother mummy at night. She liked to sleep because sleep was dream-time. But it was thundering out really hard and she was scared. Thunder wasn't so bad, but when there was lightning too, she couldn't help it. Lightning was scary.
She stood outside the door for just a moment, deciding. Once she'd made up her mind, she chose to clutch her bear closer to her chest and pop her thumb out of her mouth to push the door open.
Her mother looked mad for just a moment, but then her eyes landed on Ashley and she smiled. She liked how her mum became soft when she smiled at her.
Just then, a clap of thunder shook the Sanctuary as a flash of lightning lit it up, causing Ashley to respond to instinct and scramble into her mother's bed and into the safety of her arms.
"Mummy, I'm afraid." She cried.
"It's okay, darling." Her mother pulled her close and tucked the blankets around them. "Mummy's here." She gently stroked Ashley's back until the little girl relaxed bit-by-bit.
Ashley snuggled her face into her mother's neck, breathing in the scent of safety, no longer afraid. Her mummy was the bravest person in the world, and Ashley knew that wrapped in her arms, no harm could ever come to her. This was home. Slowly, gently she slipped into slumber, utterly convinced that her mother would keep her safe forever.