SLOWLY Charlie opened her eyes, and realised she was lying on the bed in the master bedroom. Jake was leaning over her, his handsome face grey and drawn, his eyes burning like black coals beneath hooded lids.

　　'You're awake, thank God. How do you feel? Where does it hurt?' he demanded in a voice that was not quite steady, and grasped her hand as if his life depended on it. 'Are you all right?'

　　'Oh, please,' she sighed, trying to sit up, but Jake gently pushed her back down. 'I'm fine.'

　　And surprisingly, she realised she was.

　　The fog that seemed to have numbed her brain for the past few...