Aneesah had to work late, so I drove to San Francisco to pick her up. She treats it as a kindness to her, but I honestly love driving there late at night, and (of course) love that she gets in the car at the other end. So many drives across the Bay Bridge are slow, inching forwards in gridlocked traffic. This late you breeze through though, taking in the city as it sparkles against the dark sky. When you’ve lived in New York and London, San Francisco doesn’t feel much like a city, but any city looks great at night.

I call Aneesah when I get off the freeway so that she can pack her things and ride the elevator down. That’s not really enough time, so we normally park up for a couple of minutes. I always bring Cacio along because who doesn’t want to be greeted by an excited, happy dog after a long day. It’s one of the best part of my day, that’s for sure. Cacio lies on the back seat quietly in the dark until she hears me unlock the door, and then she jumps up knowing that she’s about to see Aneesah.

One thing I love so much about Aneesah is that even after a long day at work, she greets me with such warmth. I know that she can’t feel that warm sometimes, but she offers warmth anyway because that’s just who she is. If someone like that enters your life, you’re so lucky. It’s always harder to be warm and open than cold and closed. It takes effort and heart to give energy that you don’t have because you care so much about the energy of others. Anyway, it makes me smile and we start the drive back home.

The drive back is uneventful, but my favorite part of the whole day. Idle chitchat, a laugh or two, a weird diversion getting back onto the freeway. Whilst stopped at a red light I look at the new lights on the Bay Bridge and feel grateful that someone (or several someones) championed a bit of beauty and whimsy just because. I love the Bay Bridge, and it deserves to sparkle. Back home we make tea and eat dessert from Parachute at the most ridiculous hour. It’s excellent, obviously.