Online distance learning. Study at home, at your own pace, in your own time … No, that was not what she wanted. That sounded far too much like she’d be treating photography as a hobby, something to fit into the gaps in an otherwise busy life. Maybe if she had commitments, a husband, children to consider, but that was not the way she wanted to go.

Day courses, evening classes, part-time … Short specialist courses, taught by professional photographers … Combine creativity and technical skills … Develop a portfolio … Build a professional career … There was so much choice, but none of them appealed to her. And besides, she was already a professional photographer, wasn’t she? Well, she had a job that paid her to take photos, so she must be. But weddings, holes in the road, people proudly holding their prizes or their pets … she had taken enough pictures of those to last her a lifetime. Is that what she wanted? To carry on in the job, and study in the evenings? No, anything part-time would feel half-hearted and take too long. It wouldn’t feel like she really meant it, really wanted it. No, it had to be all or nothing now. A breakaway, a fresh start, a determined effort to stretch herself, expand her knowledge, make something of her talent while she was still young enough, keen enough, bursting with ideas and enthusiasm. She had to channel that talent in the right direction, even if she wasn’t yet sure what that direction might be.

Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees … Now, that was more like it. A proper, full-time course of study, a chance to immerse herself in her art, and with real qualifications at the end of it. They even did them in Norwich, but no. She needed to get away, and London had so much to offer, so London it had to be. She grabbed a notepad and started making notes. Studio and artificial lighting, portraits, food and product placement, moving image and interactive media, photojournalism, editing and visual effects, live projects, testing boundaries, professional career guidance … there were so many choices, so much to think about. She could feel her excitement mounting, alongside a flicker of panic. What did some of it even mean? Could she really do this?

‘Prue? Do you want any lunch?’ Her mum was knocking gently on her bedroom door. ‘You do know it’s almost two o’clock?’

‘Is it? God, I had no idea. Yes, a sandwich would be nice. I’ll be down in a minute.’

She dragged her eyes away from the screen and straightened up, stretching her aching back. Where had the morning gone? After a quick bowl of porridge and a flying visit to Flo, who was looking much more like her old self, she had been shut away in her room for more than four hours!

‘I didn’t like to disturb you,’ Faith said, putting a big fat doorstop of a brown bread and cheese sandwich and a mug of tea in front of her. ‘And Madi tells me you saw Joe last night, so I thought you might be a bit upset, or in contemplative mood, shall we say? I just happened to bump into her at Patty’s and asked if she got home okay …’