Sarah suddenly realised that George was beside her and she stopped, staring at the doors, not sure that she wanted to go any further. She wasn’t sure she could face the horror of what was behind them. Come on, she told herself. You can do this. Tommy is in there and you can’t leave him all alone.

‘Would you like me to come in with you?’ George asked.

Sarah nodded. She still couldn’t bring herself to look at him.

The nurse pushed open one of the doors, and Sarah began to take rapid short breaths.

‘Are you sure you want to do this?’ George asked.

Again Sarah nodded, but looked steadily in front of her. I have to, she thought, desperate to hold Tommy in her arms. She apprehensively stepped forward, feeling that at any moment her knees would give way again, and was grateful for George’s arm supporting hers.

The room had no windows, just machines that weren’t switched on and a bed. My boy’s in that bed, thought Sarah, still holding on to the slim chance that there’d been some terrible mistake, and Tommy would open his eyes to look at her with one of his cheeky grins.

She slowly walked across the room, her eyes fixed on her little brother. He looked so small in the big bed, motionless, with the covers over him up to his neck. He’s just sleeping, she thought, and walked around to the side of his bed to peer down at him. She reached out her hand to brush his soft hair off his forehead and frowned. ‘Nurse, can you get him more blankets? He feels cold.’

George stepped over and put his arm round her shoulder, saying softly, ‘He doesn’t need more blankets, love.’

Sarah shrugged off George’s arm, and leaned over Tommy. ‘Wake up, little man. Mummy’s here now to take you home.’

There was no response and tears began to fall from her eyes. ‘Please, Tommy, stop playing silly beggers with me. It’s time to get up.’

George spoke softly again. ‘Sarah, he can’t hear you.’

Though she didn’t want to accept it, Sarah knew George was right. Tommy couldn’t hear her. He would never hear her again. He wasn’t going to wake up. The reality finally hit her and she let out an anguished cry as she collapsed onto the bed, clinging to Tommy’s lifeless body. ‘Tommy … my baby! Please, George, do something … you have to do something to bring him back.’

‘I wish I could, but I can’t and you’ve got to say goodbye now,’ George said, as he gently tried to tug her away.

‘No … I can’t leave him alone. He’ll be scared if I’m not with him. Tommy … Tommy … please come back to me,’ she begged, then, gasping, she cried, ‘I love you.’