I didn't mind the Christmas rush. It kept me busy at a time when my calling was an interruption to my customers. My sister usually invited me for Chri...tmas, which was not much fun as she would bring our conversation round to what went wrong in my marriage. A subject that I tried to avoid as assiduously as she would try to talk about it. I lived my life and let others get on with theirs. My sister lived with a rigid set of almost Calvinistic rules and criticised volubly those who offended her. Sarah unwrapped me. We changed trains to the main line connection on the opposite platform. This train had modern warm carriages. I sat next to Sarah again feeling warm, rested, and grateful. We talked for the half hour it took to reach our home town. We were surprised just how much we had in common and that our attitudes to many subjects were similar.As we got off the train I asked.“Can I see you again, Sarah?”“You mean you are asking me for a date, Geoff?”“Yes. I suppose I am.”“How about. ' I tried to send out more reassurance vibes and began to undo my shirt.I leant in the shower-stall counting seconds. I'd reached a hundred and ninety-six when the door opened. She was almost as tall as me and leant her forehead against mine.'You really won't help anyone make up their mind, will you? I had to decide all by myself. I feel safe, as if I could say anything to you, but I'm still worried you'll think I'm a slut.' I put my arms round her gently.'I don't have anything to do with. She only entered when she could see him no more, once darkness had engulfed him. The night was peaceful. She slept through it very much a newborn baby, beginning life, or someone condemned to death, savouring his last night alive. She did not know what the rest of her life would be like, alone for the first time in the territory of the others. Those others who had met Theodora, who had befriended her, who had loved her and who had also led her to her death, in some way or other. She would.