‘I could lose my son.’ This time I can’t hold back my choking sobs as I cling to Aidan, he’s my driftwood in a storm. He holds me tight and although I try to compose myself as quickly as I can, it takes a few moments until I can speak.

‘Rob.’ My tone is pleading as I begin to address the doctor, but I can’t find anything else to say.

‘We do everything we can for kids. We go all out. You know it’s rare that a child doesn’t make it. Very rare.’

‘Promise me he’ll be okay,’ I ask unfairly.

‘Lucy, you’re a doctor. You know we can’t promise.’

I break down again. Break apart. I can’t hold myself together.

‘Let’s go home.’ Aidan takes my arm. ‘We’re still okay to take Kieron home?’ he asks Mr Peters.

‘Of course. We’ll be monitoring him closely. I’ve drawn you up a new prescription, you can collect this from the pharmacy on your way out.’

Aidan grips the steering wheel so tightly I can see the white bone of his knuckles protruding underneath his stretched skin.

He’s terrified.

I’m terrified.

My shuddering breath won’t go back to normal. I want to curl myself into a ball, hug my knees to my chest and close my eyes tightly.

Block everything out.

The car speeds. I stare mindlessly out of the window.

Grey sky.

Grey buildings.

Grey road.

I name things the things I can see to distract myself from my tumultuous thoughts but it doesn’t work. Instead, I bite my lip so hard that it hurts, crushing the soft skin between my teeth until I taste the blood on my tongue.

‘We’re home!’ Kieron says excitedly as we turn onto our street.

And it’s there.

Again.

Underneath the beech tree, the white car.

I glare at it.

Instead of my usual fear, a growing indignation pulls back my shoulders, straightens my spine.

How dare they?

How dare whoever it is that’s following me, trying to scare me, be here today of all days.

Haven’t I been through enough?

I glance at my family. Haven’t we been through enough?

My upset morphs into anger. Rage bubbling beneath my skin.

The second Aidan stops on our driveway, I throw open my door and run back towards the road.

‘Lucy! No!’ I hear him call behind me, but my arms are pumping by my sides, my blood pumping in my veins.

I should be scared as I approach the car but Kieron’s decline has taken all of my fear.

I’m almost at the car. Ready to confront the person who has been watching me.

Today.

Now.

Chapter Thirty-One

Connor