Yet despite that, there was no need for the abuse, and instead of feeling loved, Sarah had only ever felt unwanted. Her mother had declared her love for her on her deathbed, but it had been too late, and Sarah wondered if her mother had really ever loved her or was just easing her conscience as a dying woman. With one last look at the pauper’s grave, Sarah whispered, ‘Bye, Mum,’ and without shedding a tear she walked away.

Samuel was forever bringing home old newspapers, magazines and books that commuters had left behind on the trains. As Mo sat on her sofa and turned the page of yesterday’s broadsheet, she huffed in frustration, then threw the paper to her side. She struggled to read and she found the pictures all very boring.

Tommy was outside playing with Larry, but Sarah would be home soon and offer some respite from the tedium. She just hoped her friend wouldn’t return full of pity and woe, though she’d appeared to be fine when she’d left.

Mo crossed her legs and drummed her fingers. She could bake a cake, that would pass some time, but she’d painted her nails earlier and didn’t want to chip the varnish. She stood up and walked around the pristine room. Samuel had left the rent money in an empty fruit bowl that sat on a small table which had two chairs tucked neatly underneath. It was due today so she was expecting Mr Terence to call any time soon. She considered putting the kettle on and offering the man a cup of tea, but he didn’t seem the friendly sort and she didn’t want him getting the wrong idea. Still, anything was better than going out of her head with the monotony.

She heard the front door close, then footsteps coming up the stairs. The steps were too light and quick to belong to Mr Terence, so Sarah must have come home earlier than she’d expected.

Mo eagerly rushed to the door to greet her friend and was pleased to see a smile on Sarah’s face. ‘How did it go?’ she asked, though in truth she didn’t really care and hoped Sarah wouldn’t relay all the depressing details.

‘Just as I thought it would. There wasn’t anyone else there except me, and in a way it was good,’ Sarah replied as she took off her coat and moved the newspaper before sitting on the sofa.

‘How do you mean, good?’ Mo asked.

‘Well, it gave me time to think. My mum’s gone now, and I’m ready to build a new future for me and Tommy, but there’s just one thing I have to do first, and I don’t think I’ll be able to get on properly with my life until I’ve done it … I’m going to find my dad.’