She pauses several treads from the bottom, listening, waiting; she is again possessed (it seems to be getting worse) by a dream-like feeling, as if she is standing in the wings, about to go onstage and perform in a play for which she is not appropriately dressed, and for which she has not adequately rehearsed.
Michael Cunningham, The Hours
boredom, domestic-life, loved-ones, numb-depression, preparation-to-face-the-day, putting-on-an-act