It felt like she’d spent an eternity getting from the hay bale to only halfway to the trap door. She probably would have made it without incidence, had she not slipped on a wet spot on the floor caused by the snow Mr. Henshaw had dragged in. Suddenly her feet slid underneath her, her arms flailing uselessly, trying to find something to grab on to but as if in slow motion she fell, the ground no longer there to bear her weight. She couldn’t stop herself from crying out as her legs disappeared from underneath her, and she hit the floor so hard it winded her, her head slamming into the stone floor with a great degree of force. There was a soft crack, which made Bessy wince and involuntarily let out a loud gasp. For a few seconds Nonna saw bright lights and exploding fireworks in front of her eyes, the pain so severe in her head that her eyes watered and closed instinctively. She heard a gasp as the farmer turned around and saw her.