I study the woman as she sits drooping in her chair, exhaustion creeping up to claim her. Long, dark eyelashes fan the tops of her delicate cheeks. Now that her hair has dried, it shines a beautiful auburn colour, falling down her back and shoulders in waves. She shifts to prop an elbow on the table and slumps into her hand, then winces as her chin touches the palm. She jerks her hand away and straightens, dropping the hand into her lap and cradling it with her other hand.

I ...