‘I live in Sydney – arguably one of the most beautiful cities in the world – and what do I do with my time? Nothing! Nothing important, nothing cultural, nothing that really takes advantage of where I live. I had to come all this way to realise I don’t appreciate the incredible city I live in. I mean, Sydney’s amazing! There’s Circular Quay, there’s The Rocks and Darling Harbour and the Botanic Gardens and the cliff walk from Bondi to Coogee, and the galleries and restaurants and wine bars and pubs. I used to have fun. I used to be fun. But now I sit in my little flat with Domino, my cat, wishing my friends would come out and play.

‘Well, fuck that! So what if they’re busy being mums and wives? I should find ways to work in with their lives – spend more time with them, with their kids. I love kids. I may not want any of my own, but I love all my honorary nieces and nephews.

‘I should offer to babysit, so my girlfriends can have a night out with their hubbies. And I should get out of the gym and go back to my old running routes along the coast, and swim in the sea pool, not the chlorinated one. My life is too full of stuff I don’t need, and empty of the stuff I do – the stuff that matters.

‘And I used to travel – all the time. Even on weekends, I’d find somewhere new to go. I haven’t done that in ages. Neil was a total homebody and I let myself become one too.

‘I’m stuck in my own life, and it’s my fault.’ I stared at a spot on the tablecloth where someone had spilt olive oil and it had left a stain.

Everything I’d said was true. Even a cloistered nun would consider my life dull and sad – and that was my fault.

But that also meant it was me who could change it back into something joyful, something that resembled the days I’d spent under Greek skies. Maybe I could take that feeling home with me. Could I be joyful at home? Could I just embrace life, just breathe and stop stressing myself out all the time? Could I be happy?

I’d almost forgotten Josh was there. When I met his eyes, I affirmed my momentous self-discovery with a nod and added, ‘Just bigger.’

He leaned over and whispered close to my ear, ‘That’s my girl.’ He followed it with a kiss on my cheek. And right then, I was his girl. Tingles.

‘Come on,’ he said, as he stood and shouldered his bag, ‘it’s time to go the ferry.’

The ferry that would take us back to Athens where we would say goodbye. I took a deep breath.