Mo watched as Sarah sat on the armchair, then rested her head back and closed her eyes. ‘You still haven’t told me what’s happened. I can tell you’re upset about something.’

Sarah lifted her head and drew in a long breath. ‘It’s my mum … she’s dead.’

‘Oh, Sarah, I’m so sorry, that’s awful. How do you know? I thought you was going down the Thames?’

‘I did, but I bumped into an old mate who told me my mum was ill. I went to see her, but it was horrible. She looked so ill and weak, I ain’t ever seen her looking like that. She seemed fine when I left, but now … Anyhow, she eventually let me call for an ambulance, but by the time I got back from the telephone box, she was almost dead. She said a few last words, then she was gone.’

Mo dashed across the room and knelt on the floor beside her friend. She took Sarah’s hand, and though she wanted to offer some words of comfort, she felt at a loss what to say.

‘It was so awful. It’s the first time I’ve seen a dead person. Her eyes were open, but they looked vacant, just staring into space. I couldn’t believe it at first, it didn’t seem real. The ambulance arrived, and that’s when they confirmed it. Funny really, she said she wanted to die alone … well, she almost got her wish, but I think she was glad I was there at the last moment.’ Sarah began to sob while Mo held her.

‘She’s in a better place now, love,’ Mo said.

‘I don’t know what I’m so upset about. I mean, she wasn’t the best of mums, but just before she died, she told me some stuff. Now I sort of understand the reason for the way she was. I wish I’d known earlier, maybe we could have been closer.’

‘Let me pour you a cuppa. You’ve had a nasty shock, it’s bound to be upsetting,’ Mo offered. As she poured the tea, she glanced at Sarah and felt relieved to see she’d finally stopped crying.

‘I ain’t got much money left and my mum didn’t have any, so she’ll be in a pauper’s grave. I feel terrible about it, but there’s nothing I can do.’

‘I’d help you out if I could, but me and Sam are skint too. If we had any money, we wouldn’t be living in this dump,’ Mo lied. They had a few quid put aside, but she wasn’t prepared to share it with a woman she’d only recently met.