The new day was breaking over the hills behind Chiang Mai when I awoke. I went out onto the balcony and smoked a cigarette as the city came slowly alive. Food vendors announced their breakfast wares and shopkeepers prepared for the long day ahead. I loved this city still, though I would likely never live here again. But it would always hold a special place in my heart, and I knew that visits would always be tinged with the sad memory that I’d never had the chance to bring my Aya here.
I showered and dressed in the dark combat pants that we would all be wearing. For now, I wore an ordinary T-shirt. Chamreun had suggested that if we all turned up for breakfast dressed entirely in black, it would look more than a little suspicious. So, the plan was to change into black T-shirts in the SUV. F
