They were still driving into the sun, and Alice felt like she was going to boil to death in the horrible heat. At last, she reached out and thumbed for the sun visor above her head, but her eyes caught the closed vanity mirror. She hesitated. Did she want to look again?

“What’s up? Worried about your eye bags?” Joseph said pointedly, making her flinch.

“No, I just…” She couldn’t bring herself to flip the mirror open. “I have a cut across my cheek. Does it look infected?”

“I have to watch the road, Alice.”

Gee, thanks, she thought to herself.

The sun above the road.