Nothing small happens in her life. It has always been so, since as long as she can remember.

She checks her makeup, wondering: too much, too little? Lipstick, she decides, and chooses a scarlet shade, Estée Nectarine. Hair? Perfect. Outfit? A tailored black dress, neat, purposeful.

Here’s the bus.

Dermott Hayes is a writer. He has published three books; a biography of Sinead O’Connor, So Different, a crime novel, Tito’s Dead and Postcard from a Pigeon, a collection of short stories. He’s working on a new short story collection, another crime novel and a science fiction story.