I've just been awakened as the warm morning sunlight trickles in through the sheer curtains. It's such a blissful moment as I glance across to see Shannon lay beside me, still asleep and looking very much at peace. I reach over to gently brush the hair fallen on her face and lie on my side watching her sleep. Right now, the outside world seems a million miles away…
Such a contrast to a few days ago when we were stripped of our dignity and any respect the rest of the team had for either of us. Not much of THAT incriminating footage got played though before I jumped to my feet and scolded "Michael, enough! Off… now!" Shannon sat frozen, her head in her hands with humiliation. The team had few words - mainly gasps and murmurs. They exchanged glances back and forth as Stella blurted out in a non-taunting but almost sympathetic way, "oooh busted" Trust Stella to state the blatantly obvious! Kerry said nothing when the video was played, merely displaying a look of pure rage and disgust. Followed by a swift flick of her head to beckon us towards her office….
That was surely the lecture to end all lectures. She expected much better of her senior officers.
But here and now, as I lay here listening to Shannon's gentle breathing and watching her start to awaken, I know the suspension we now face is a small price to pay for moments like these. As she opens her eyes and looks over to meet mine, she takes a deep breathe and a grin spreads across her face. "Morning" she says ever so innocently. With that, I know all the challenges we have ahead of us at work, regaining the respect of our colleagues, we can face together - as one….. It mightn't be easy at times, but it took me this long to find the one thing that's been missing in my life, there's no way I'm letting her go now.
The End