He chuckles, knowing that his plan had worked perfectly.

A man entered the shop and walked towards the counter. Imogen stood fed up with her nails and fed up with her job. She had given up on false smiles – partly because she hoped this would give the boss a reason to want to sack her but then realise she was only one of two staff members, then maybe he would give her a raise. She also feared that her face could contract Repetitive Strain Injury. Mind you if she had she’d have a better chance of getting some money out of that tight middle-aged git.

     At that moment her face had no particular expression, so it was clear that her eyes lit up when she noticed who it was that had joined her.

      ‘You’re safe! You’re alive!’

     ‘Yes. Yes I am,’ Stuart returned, surprised by her enthusiasm.

     ‘I’m so glad! I’ve been worried sick about you. I saw it all on the news and I just knew it would be you on that ferry. I couldn’t help myself.’

     ‘Oh, that’s so sweet.’ He stared into her eyes, touched. He reached into his bag.

‘Would you…?’

     ‘Yes?’ She gazed at him intently.

He handed her the travel guide to Sweden. ‘Would you give me a refund for this please? After that experience I don’t particularly want a souvenir.’ He laughed. Imogen smiled her cashier smile, and handed him back his money. She had hardly known him and yet he had consumed her for so many days.

     ‘I’ll never know him,’ she thought. She watched his back as he left the shop once more.

     Up in the office, she resigned.

Stuart was reluctant to get on the train home. He got as far as the platform but each time the train arrived he hesitated. He waited at the same place for an hour, tossing reasons to get on and to not get on over and over. On the eleventh train he sat down next to a newspaper. The headline read:

     ‘Reverse Microwave Explosion.”

     Stuart’s eyes broadened. At first he was excited – maybe the media had mentioned his invention on reports of the ferry disaster. Then he realised someone must have stolen his idea.

     “This morning many people were taken to hospital after using the new invention – the ‘Reverse Microwave’ for the first time. They reported that it simply exploded when they were staring interestedly into the machine when it was switched. Many of the victims are threatening to sue Nicholas Waltonstone, head of the company that makes them, Nicholas Waltonstone Incorporated, for multiple injuries and neglect in production.”

     Stuart smiled. ‘Rather him than me,’ he said to himself.

At her flat in Greenford, Imogen sat quietly soaking a cushion on her settee. After a few minutes her face rose and she wiped it with her hands. Her hopes had all been dashed. She’d never see him again.

     As she switched off the light to go to bed, she hoped that one day, some day soon, someone would once again put her real smile back on her face. For good.