in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out/in/out/in/

Claire snatched a baby wipe from her bag and lifting Hegs’s large hand she began to scrape out the underneath of his fingers and scrub the back of his palm.

‘It’s high time you met a man,’ said Hegs, quietly.

Jane announced to the ward that she was about to teach a Latin class and began. ‘Morior, Moreris, Moritur, Morimur, Morimini, Moriuntur,’ she sang out and waved her hands, conducting.

After the hand cleaning, Hegs leaned over his nightstand, picked up his plastic mask and attached it around his head, snapping it onto his red face by its blue elastic. A sort of a getaway as a puff of mist escaped through the side holes and he settled the machine pug-like on his lap, snorting.

I plugged in Ray LaMontagne, attempting a sleep. His raspy voice was so fuckable. It was a Cup of Teatime, which is very different to Actual Teatime.

‘I come to you last, see … last,’ Michal shouted over to me, over the rasping LaMontagne, winking as he pushed his trolley of goodies out in front of him with great importance. He was a poor replacement for the singer and his beautiful vocal chords, his denims, one leg thrust outwards sitting near a fountain or on a swing hanging off a large tree, looking sexily depressed, a mountain with snow, a cabin with a red door, crocuses making their way through and he’d pick one and put it in a vase on the centre of the table. Oh, and a log fire, and he’d pick up his guitar and sing ‘Shelter’.

Michal rattled biscuits out of packets.

I would never wank in here.

It was full of interruptions.

Besides, all self-pleasure had gone entirely astray since Magpie landed. Everything filled up with her plumage, the terrifying whiteness of her breast. I couldn’t bear to touch myself. Even brushing my teeth was nauseating.

‘I keep you best Sunday biskits … maybe even little cake.’

Chapter 5

Hey

… Hey there! How’re u? (Hug emoji)

Horny and tired … You?

… Fuck. Soz. I’m OK

I want some sweets

… Ah poor you – chocolate? How you feelin?

No – apple drops. Come in with some, please, might die if you don’t xoxoxo

… I’m not coming in – can’t xoxoxoxoxo

Y? (Crying emoji – full tears – gushing one – almost could be laughter)

… Kids asleep ya twat (Three small bed emojis)

Leave them

… No x

Fuck you. Ah no only joking, don’t leave them (Sideways laughing emoji – def too much)

… I won’t … stop worrying … so no better?

Nope (tearless sad face)

… Soz xxx

I know, such a balls (Basketball emoji. Total accident)

… You missing the kids? They all send love hearts, Nathan has made a dino card this time … Brachiosaurus x

Sweet. Yeah, yeah, send them some back xoxoxoxoxo (Three hug emojis and a turd)

… They’re fast asleep … Joshua made dinner; well put pizza in oven without box