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the orchard and deep into the dark night's sky.
    They locked their entangled limbs together hard in a now wet embrace of dizzy ecstasy as they climaxed as one, then collapsed in a heap together on the ground, exhausted.
    The orchard seemed to fall into a perfect stillness. She lay silently and gazed up, through the gaps in the branches, and towards the vast midnight sky. It was a deep dark velvet blue, marbled with bronze and gold hues, and scattered with a thousand stars.
    * * *
    Marianne awoke softly. Her face pressed comfortably against a cotton pillow, and a luxurious duvet draped across her naked body. Still not sure where she was, she reached her arm across the bed in hope of finding Tommy beside her. He was not there, although the sheets were still warm from where he must have been. Sitting upright she scanned the room and noticed that some of his clothes from the night before lay hanging from the back of a chair. She lay back down, wrapped the duvet close against her, and relaxed. He couldn't be that far away.
    She dozed a little longer, drifting in an out of sleep, allowing pleasant dreams to visit. She dreamt of her and Tommy, not much older than they are now. They are walking near the edge of a lake. Tommy has is pants rolled up to his knees, and Marianne watches him from the bank as he wades, ankle deep, into the water. He has some flecks of grey in his hair. His face still rugged and handsome. He is holding the hand of a small child, a little girl no more than five or six. She stomps her tiny feet, splashing about and laughing before daddy whisks her up into his arms and holds her close to his chest. They look happy together.
    Finally, Marianne plucked up the energy to leave the comfort of her bed, and seek Tommy. She grabbed what she presumed must be one of Sarah's dressing gowns from the back of the door and put it on. With a spring in her step, she made her why across the landing. Although she had no recollection of leaving the orchard the night before, it was now clear that she was still in Sarah's house. Tommy must have carried her in once she had fallen asleep on the picnic blanket.
    From across the other side of the house she could her the sound of cutlery and breakfast being prepared in the kitchen. As she got a little closer, the sound of Tommy's voice became clear – he was speaking on the telephone. Rather than enter, she stood stealthily behind the door and listened.
    “ ... I know, I know,” she heard him say. “You have no idea how much planning has gone into this trip. I'm coordinating the whole Rwanda project and I have to be there.” He paused for a moment as he listened to the voice on the other end. “Yeah, I know. You're right, it is a long very time to be away for, but it's a big project. The tickets are booked, and the plane leaves in two days time. They're expecting me to be there.”
    This was all Marianne could stand to hear. She felt the blood drain from her face, and her heart sink like stone. Anger welled up inside her. How could she have been so foolish to believe he was interested in her. All his talk of commitment, and how he wanted a real relationship. Why say those things when all a long he knew that he would be leaving in a few days? Why not just be straight with her? She thought he was different, but he was just immature boy. She felt used.
    She ran back to the bedroom, her legs weak and numb from the shock. Gathering her clothes from the chair, her eyes filled with tears. There was no point sticking around now. The sooner she got back to the comfort of her apartment the better.
    Tommy returned a few moments later, breakfast tray in hand, to an empty bedroom. He looked over to the unmade bed. On the pillow there was a small black box. He placed the breakfast tray down on the dressing table, and picked the black box up for a closer inspection. He opened it to reveal a silver pendent. It had a celtic design, with the name 'Tommy' engraved upon it.
    Marianne was gone, and