I am restless, picking at already ripped-off fingernails. Aurelia flicks through the in-flight magazine, turns the pages too fast to be reading anything.
When I look up though ten minutes later, I see tears flying down her face and I am almost relieved I can’t see her mouth, the mask is affording privacy on something that’s too exposing. The woman with the headphones looks up but quickly back down.
Then Aurelia starts speaking, barely audible. I lean close to catch her words.
‘How are we not there yet?’ she says, hands in the air. She looks at me. ‘I have to protect her. It’s my job.’
She slams her hands down on the armrest so hard that the woman next to her feels it. Looks up. I apologise with my eyes.
If all of this is right … Romilly. Alone with Marc.
I shiver.
Twenty minutes until we land.