What Does It Feel Like?

by Sophie Kinsella

right at this moment, he thinks, right at this exact, magical moment, he could almost think that nothing was wrong at all.

“Have you been sleeping here?” she asks. “I’ve been here the whole time,” says Nick. “The whole time?” she says in disbelief. “I wasn’t going to leave you, you silly girl.”

“Maybe I don’t want a bucket list at all. I think what I want is just to live like we do anyway—you know, do our work and go for walks and watch Come Dine with Me—but have a slightly nicer version of it. Normal but better. Call it ‘Normal plus.’ ”

“I’ve done a lot of exciting, bucket-listy stuff in my life. I’ve done glamorous travel and I’ve walked the red carpet and I’ve swum with dolphins. I don’t need to do any more of that stuff. I just need to be around. Have fun with the children. Have fun with you.

And right at that moment, this is her only aim in life, the only happy ending she wants. Just to keep going.