Sunshine penetrates Millicent Codd’s bedroom, sneaking through a tiny gap in the curtains. It’s young, pale, inexperienced, but keen to shine.

   Slipping over the windowsill, inspired by the challenge of ice on the inside, it ventures further, spreading itself around. Daring, it touches Millicent’s cold face, and recoils.

     Millicent’s eyes snap open. They burn with fury. She sits up, glaring into the intruding brightness…and still the innocent sunshine pokes around, illuminating dark, hidden corners, beaming and thawing as it goes. But it hasn’t a chance against Millicent. Her feet hit the icy lino, and she’s across the room in an instant, swishing the curtains together, snuffing it out.

    No light. There must be no light. And most certainly no warmth. Slipping back into bed, she strokes David’s stiff, frigid brow.
‘There now,” she whispers, “cold and dark again, my darling…just the way we like it’