The boutique was still quiet when I unlocked the door that morning. The light outside had that pale winter quality, soft enough to feel almost fragile. Claudia was in the back sorting a delivery, so I switched on the front lights and set the kettle to boil. It was the kind of morning that usually felt gentle.

I had not checked my email yet. I almost left it until later, but when the kettle clicked off, I opened my laptop on the counter. The usual messages were there first: a supplier update, a ...