Our World, that’s the theme this year. The sign shines bright across the entrance to the venue, the coloured words floating on the backdrop of a deep blue sea. It’s impossible to go anywhere without being alerted to the dangers facing the planet. What we should and should not do to save it. I think of my world, what I should be doing or not doing, how far am I willing to go to save it.

The magnificent space looms in front of me when I enter. Sound echoes in every direction. In the distance, I see Anna put the finishing touches to her entry. The model’s hair wraps like coloured feathers through carefully manipulated hairbands that Anna made herself.

‘The Peacock’ is its name and I have to hand it to the girl, even though she has spent most of the past year throwing up from late nights in dingy venues, she’s really pulled it off.

It does look like a peacock. Plumes of colour jut out in full circles around the model’s face. How she manages to keep it all in place amazes me.

‘I think we’re over here,’ I say to Marie, pointing towards Anna. We both walk in her direction.

Behind Anna’s station we sit at a round table and wait for the rest of the staff to arrive. Sienna is first, walking in like she owns the place. Head held high, her pink dress flowing like candy floss. Sienna’s hair is back combed so it’s bouffant on top of her head, and wrapped with a yellow bow. Walking with the confidence of God, she arrives at the table.

‘Looking good, ladies.’

‘Sienna, you’re like a fucking model. How did you do all that in such a short space of time?’

‘Dedication, Marie, dedication.’

‘You look fab,’ I say, feeling like an old woman in the dated black dress that gets pulled out of the wardrobe for every occasion. It’s beginning to look navy I’ve washed it that often. Pulling at the end of the dress, I promise myself when everything dies down, when my world is handed back to me, I’m going to go on a shopping spree. I’ll buy myself some nice fashionable clothes like all the other staff wear. I used to be so fashion conscious and fussy about my image. I used to be a lot of things.

‘Well, well, well,’ Sienna says walking over to Anna, visibly impressed by what she sees.

‘This is amazing, Anna.’ She leans forward, careful not to disturb Sienna’s creation and blows her an air kiss.

‘She’s here.’

‘Who?’ Marie turns to see who I’m looking at and without answering me, jumps out of her seat to greet her boss.