"So let's just assume that you're going somewhere" Kate said.

"You've always been an optimist, Kate."

"One of us has to be. So anyway, let's assume. You've saved up money. You've thought about it. You're ready to go. Where are you going?"

"Ideally?" Sacha asked.

"Sure."

"Everywhere."

"More realistically."

"Realistically, I'm not going anywhere" Sacha said.

Kate tutted. "Try to find some middle ground for once, okay?"

Sacha laughed. "Okay. Fine. Well . . " She pretended to think for a few moments. "Europe" she said. "It's Europe. Couldn't really be anywhere else."

"That's true, you do like things that are grey and cold" Kate teased her.

"Sorry I don't want to go and party on a beach in Bali" Sacha said, and just saying it brought back uncomfortable memories of when they'd planned to travel together, so long ago. Sacha had been planning to travel for so long, and now even talking about it made her feel short of breath.

"Good time to go to Europe" Kate observed. "Your dollars will go far."

"Fucking depressing time to go to Europe" Sacha countered.

"It's depressing everywhere" Kate said nonchalantly. "We don't know how good we've got it here. Australia's cruising and we don't even realise it. Everywhere else is falling apart."

"I guess I'd better go see it before it's gone, then" Sacha said.