Je ne regrette q’un peu

Ready to leave, Sofia turned and gave the sleeping Paolo one last wistful look, part admiration, part pity and a tiny, tiny part regret. Her sigh was silent as she turned, checked the two envelopes on his table, quietly switched off the light as she left the bedroom and silently closed the flat door behind her.

It was after midnight, but she had noticed a minicab office a short step down the street, where she sat while waiting for a cab.

Had she been a man, maybe she wouldn’t have entertained any thoughts of regret. But she was a woman.