Turning onto her side, she snuggled into me, wanting nothing more than for me to cuddle her in return. A reminder of times during our training, when we were both worn out and basically incapable of sex, but still wanted that intimacy that came with sharing a room for months on end, a relationship that eventually turned from friendship to lovers.

Heading downstairs after she'd changed, noticing she wore clothing to cover up her bruises, we wandered out into the evening to join the tourists that still thronged to the south of France, even when the temperature wasn't at its height. We avoided the tourist spots by the water, finding...