Noelle
Sleep wouldn’t come. I tossed and turned all night, swimming around in the big, empty bed. I tried all the things: a warm bath, soothing lavender body lotion, reading the romance novel I had packed, listening to rain storms and tree frogs on the sleep app on my phone. But I was still wide awake and miserable when my alarm went off at five AM.
I dragged myself out of bed and switched on the too-bright bathroom lights, the kind of lights that seemed to highlight every flaw, every blemish, every spot and every wrinkle. It was particularly making the deep dark shadows under my eyes look extra impressive. I didn’t just look exhausted, I looked like I had gone six rounds in the ring with a professional boxer. And I don’t know how to box!
I sighed and dragged a brush through my wild, ta
