She wondered if she had done the right thing, agreeing to let him visit. It was so hard sometimes, dealing with other people’s mess, to know what the right thing was. Still, Prue could always send him away again, couldn’t she? Or who knew? This could be the big moment of revelation that proved to Joe just how wrong he had been and how much he loved her, the tearful reunion that sent them flying back into each other’s arms.

‘I got you a tea, and a cheese and pickle.’ Stuart crept back into the room, cautiously. Faith wasn’t too sure if it was in deference to Prue lying there so silently or for fear of getting his head bitten off by a distressed wife.

‘Thank you,’ she said, holding out her hand, not to take the food but to wrap her fingers around his own. ‘You do know I couldn’t do this without you, don’t you?’

‘Likewise, love.’

Prue opened her eyes. She didn’t know where she was, or why the light above her was so bright, or where all the strange noises were coming from. This wasn’t her room, not her bed.

She struggled to pull her thoughts together, but her head didn’t feel right. Muzzy, muddled, like the worst kind of headache. What was going on? Had she been drinking? No. The last thing she remembered was being in the kitchen at Madi’s, filling the kettle, boiling it, picking it up …

‘Prue? Prue? Can you hear me?’

Who was that? Simon. Had he come home with her after all? She had wanted him to, so badly, but she didn’t remember chasing after him. Had she? Still, he was here now. But why did she feel so sleepy? Had they …?

‘Si …?’

‘Don’t try to talk, Prue. Do you know where you are? What happened to you?’

It wasn’t Simon. It sounded like …

She turned her head, slowly, but it hurt. Her whole body hurt.

‘Joe?’

‘You’re in hospital, Prue. Everything’s okay. Take it easy now. Don’t try to move.’

Another voice. From somewhere further away. One she didn’t recognise at all. A woman.

‘My name’s Carol, and I’m a nurse. Your mum and dad are here, Prue, and Joe. You’ve had a little knock on the head. Nothing to worry about. Come back to us in your own time.’

‘Oh, Prue, I’ve been so scared.’ That was her mum. Unmistakeable. She tried to focus on the face that had loomed in over her, blocking out everyone else. Kisses landing frantically on her cheek, the smell an odd combination of cheese and eau de cologne and fear …

‘Can we all just give her a bit of space now please?’

Prue closed her eyes and let the darkness wash back over her. Too much to take in. Too many questions. She let them all drift into the distance, just a fuzz of voices mingling together into one, and all so far away.