‘I’m sorry, Mum, but I can’t just leave you like this. I can see you’re uncomfortable, and it’s only going to get worse. I’m going down the road to call an ambulance. They’ll give you something for the pain in hospital. At least you’ll feel more comfortable.’

Sarah saw her mother grip the blanket and nod.

At last, she thought, and ran from the flat to the telephone box before her mother could change her mind.

Annie heard the front door close, and tried to suck in a deep breath, but it was almost impossible now as her swollen stomach inhibited her breathing. Her itchy legs were driving her crazy, but she didn’t feel she had the energy to scratch them. She was glad she’d given in and allowed Sarah to call for an ambulance. She knew she’d be dead soon, but welcomed the thought of some pain relief.

So, her daughter knew everything now, the whole sordid truth about her father and Tommy’s. She was pleased she’d finally told her, but regretted not being honest earlier. The girl deserved better, and Annie wished she could have lived her life over again and treated her daughter with more kindness.

Her head throbbed, and her body ached. The years of alcohol abuse had finally caught up with her. She’d killed herself, slowly drinking herself to death, and she knew it was too late to do anything other than accept her sorry fate.

She scratched her arms. They began to bleed again as she took off several scabs. In the distance, she could hear children playing, and footsteps overhead from the upstairs occupants. All around her, life was carrying on, but hers was coming to a self-inflicted, premature end.

Fear gripped her, and her shallow breaths quickened. I don’t want to die, she thought, terrified of what it was going to feel like. Would she just close her eyes and that would be it? Did she have a soul, and if so, where would her soul go? She knew she didn’t deserve a place in heaven and hoped she wouldn’t meet up with her wicked father again. She’d heard that people close to death experience their life flashing before their eyes. She hoped that wouldn’t happen to her. She’d rather not be reminded of most of hers. Whatever happened, she prayed it would be quick and soon. There was no fight left in her, and she felt she had no reason to live.