I was so lost in my own thoughts that I couldn't remember how long it took before I finally fell asleep.

When I was awakened by the bright morning sun, I let out a long sigh, slid out of bed, and headed for the bathroom. I was going to have another long day of nothing to do.

A soft knock on the door drew my attention, and I watched as a maid brought in a small plate of fresh fruit, pastries, juice, and coffee. The usual breakfast-time routine made me feel more like a ...