I Enjoy Solitude

Sometimes I yearn for solitude. It's so far been easy to find because it's just me and my husband, and our friends all seem to know how to be companionably silent. However, I have a sister who, following a big seizure, has been diagnosed with a brain tumour. She will not be able to live on her own, so she will have to live with us. Despite being quite deaf she refuses to get a hearing aid, on top of which she's a demanding, attention-seeking person. She has no hobbies or interests and cannot immerse herself in a book. Being sensitive to hints, backing off, etc, are not her strong points either, which is a shame because we have a particular lifestyle which I have no intention of spelling out to her. Our house is quite a big one, but only the study is truly off limits. When she visits she follows me around. All in all she isn't easy to be with.

Although I intend to give her a safe space, and know I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do it, I truly dread having my world turned up side down.