‘No,’ Holly replied. ‘You told me that you were the one who could make a difference. That I could pick up all the carrier bags in the world and nothing would change. That you had the opportunity to make changes because of where you were, your job. Now you’re telling me that’s not true.’ She began to cry, and Charlie ached to reach out to her, to comfort her, but he felt absolutely paralysed by indecision.

‘Holly, believe me, if there was some other way, I would take it, but there isn’t. I need to step away from this. And, perhaps, so do you.’

‘How can I?’ Holly raised her voice another notch. ‘Harry is part of my life, Charlie. He’s just a baby; he can’t do it for himself. If people like us don’t speak up for him, try to get him the drugs he needs just to live a normal life, what hope does he have? I thought you understood that. I thought you agreed with me.’

‘I do,’ Charlie could see the anguish on her face, and he desperately wanted to hold her and make it all go away, but he couldn’t. How could he? ‘Believe me, Holly, if there was another way of doing this, I’d do it. But I’ve been warned; make a fuss about this and everything else I need to do will be ignored. I’ll have no career.’

‘That’s it, isn’t it?’ Suddenly, the penny dropped. Charlie could see it in Holly’s eyes as they flashed in anger. ‘She’s told you that you won’t have a ministerial career on her patch if you push this, hasn’t she?’

‘Not in so many words,’ Charlie hedged. ‘But she does wield a lot of influence. I have to play things carefully if I’m to make any progress.’

‘This is not a game, Charlie!’ Holly stood up and started pacing her lounge, wiping abortively at her eyes to rid them of tears as the anger took over. ‘This is people’s lives. Harry’s life.’ She stopped pacing and turned back towards him. ‘Would you ever be able to forgive yourself if Harry becomes just another CF death statistic because this medication was held up and you could have done something about it? Made things happen for him?’

‘I don’t have that kind of power,’ Charlie retorted. ‘And if I keep pushing this now, I never will. Can’t you see? It’s the wrong time.’

‘Try telling that to Harry, and to Rachel, and to all of the people who are relying on their government to make this happen.’ Holly was suddenly very still.

‘I’m sorry,’ Charlie said quietly. ‘I promised you I’d help, and now I have to go back on that promise. It’s not good enough, I know.’