It was dark, lit only by candles. The blue satin that had previously surrounded Rabbit was gone; a sheet covered her to her collar bone, and her hands were placed outside it, straight and by her sides. Her bald head was shaved and smooth. Vincent had removed the heavy make-up and what was left behind was lighter, with a little Kardashian-style sculpting. She looked like herself.

‘There ya are,’ Marjorie said, and tears stung her eyes. She took Rabbit’s hand in hers. ‘Just wanted a little time, just us. So I got you sorted, and I don’t want to throw bouquets at myself but it’s perfect. So there’s a few things we need to talk about. Firstly I’m pissed you never encouraged me to make more friends. You’re it and that’s your fault. Who could compare to the mighty Rabbit Hayes? Certainly not the bank dweebs I’ve spent a lifetime working with and yes, I know you told me to leave the bank years ago but fuck you anyway, Rabbit. Now that’s out of the way. What’s next? So how’s your ma? Well, she’s hanging in there, Jack’s gone to lunch but you knew he’d find a way to disappear. He’ll be back. And Grace? Well, she’s doing her best. Davey’s being Davey, silently freaking out, but he’ll be OK. Juliet? How’s Juliet, I hear ya ask. Well, she’s not good, Rabbit. She’s in so much pain and I’d do anything to take it away but I can’t, no one can, even your mother – who’s drugged her, by the way. The child is out of her mind, getting her head stuck between banisters and talking about feelings having colours. I’m going to do my best to help. I just don’t know how long I have with her.’

Tears burned holes in her face. She wiped the mucus emanating from her nose at an alarming force and rate with the back of her hand. ‘Me? I’m fine, you know me. So clearly not fine, but you know – fine. It’s only day two and I already hate this world without you, so that’s brilliant. Hey, fun fact, I sat across the road from my mother’s house for an hour yesterday like a psycho, that’s new. What else?’

Vincent knocked on the door, a light rap.

‘Shit, I have to go, Vincent needs to get you dressed. That’s an image I could do without – silver lining, you’re dead so you don’t have to endure that. He’s an odd one, and his sidekick . . . poor kid, the good news is Francie gave him a key style tip ten seconds after meeting him. He’s here, he’s outside, he’s being brilliant.’