Even with her eye mask on, the glare of the morning sun woke Elin. She pulled it off and tucked it into the bag next to her: Prada - a little treat she had bought herself many years ago.

 

She lay quietly for a few minutes, contemplating what the day might bring her.

 

She sat up, stretched, and rubbed her arms. Sunny today but still likely to be a little chill in the air. She glanced at her phone, quite outdated but it worked and that was all that mattered – not that she was using it very much these days. It was 7am – time to get moving – she would have the bathroom to herself if she was quick.

 

Making her way there, she mused over what she should wear. She pulled out her favourite dress: orange with yellow stripes: a collision of her favourite colours. Wearing this always lifted her spirits. Taking off her sleep wear, she quickly shimmied into it – she didn't fill it like she used to. She pulled on her pumps – beige – versatile although ground down heels – hopefully a little wear left in them. Elin had pared down her wardrobe carefully over the last few years – some might say she was a minimalist, she mused.

 

She had also cut her long hair into a pixie style – low maintenance. Grey was starting to invade but maybe this would pass for highlights – didn't people pay a fortune for those? 

 

She splashed her face with cold water, patting it dry with a well-worn face cloth. Then a quick brush of her teeth and spray of deodorant.

 

She peered at her bottle of Chanel – a little left but she preferred to save that for a special occasion – you never know, she thought.

 

She studied her face in the mirror. The etch of lines around her eyes and mouth were becoming more pronounced – but it had been a harsh summer after all. She wondered what strangers thought when they saw her face. Elin blinked, smiled at herself. Smile and the world smiles with you – or was it laugh? She couldn't remember.

 

She patted some powder sparingly on her forehead, nose, and cheeks – pinched them a little – she had run out of blusher. Smeared a little lip gloss – pouting at her reflection. There, ready for the day she told herself.

 

Elin gathered her belongings, smoothed her dress, and walked confidently out the door into the new day.

 

On the bench across from the public toilet block, a couple sipped their takeaway coffees, enjoying the morning sun.

 

'She's here all the time', the man observed.
'Yes, always wearing the same dress', his wife replied.