Val woke late and slowly the next morning, partially because she particularly wanted to, and because her body seemed to leave her with no other choice. Morning had long since settled in by the time her eyes opened properly, the light already stretching across the room in long, pale bands that looked tired themselves. Heavy light. Washed out gold, like something pulled thin across too many days.

She pushed herself up against the pillows with a sluggish kind of reluctance, her head still ...