You lose the habit of sociability; you even lose confidence.

As the women walked back into Marlow, Judith found herself almost overwhelmed by a warm glow of contentment. She knew there were so few moments in life when it was possible to say you were happy, but that was how she felt at this precise moment: truly happy.

the sky was billowing with black smoke, orange flames dancing above the treeline.

society dismisses fat people, don’t they? Is this person bright, or cunning, or kind? No, society says they’re fat.

feel the sugar-rush of inspiration

the water drying on her naked skin;

she decided to do what she always did when she was stuck with a problem, and that was to go for a swim. Once in the Thames, Judith found she could drift off into her thoughts as she swam along.

unable to keep a lid on his fury.

‘I knew that when I wrote to him, I was pushing a domino over. There are always other dominos.’