Counting down

And trying not to freak out

People have taken to asking me recently whether I’m okay.

I’m not sure if this is because a) I look like I’ve been burning the candle at both ends (which I have), or b) because I have aged unexpectedly quickly due to a) (as my daughter speculated as only blood relatives can, peering at me after a particularly long day), or c) they are imagining what it’s…