My phone’s been off since I boarded the plane in Manchester, and as I turn it on I’m horrified to see that I have messages. They must have come through before I left, but the airport was noisy and I didn’t check before switching it off. They’ve been sitting there, waiting to be discovered, ready to spew their malice when I am least expecting it.

There are at least ten texts, and I know who they are all from. I glance at the first one and I don’t want to look at any more. The language is foul and I almost gasp at the vitriol. My eyes flood with tears. I realise I’ve been a fool, but I met Ian when I was at a low point in my life. Pops was ill, my dad was refusing to speak to me, and I was about to move to a new city where I knew no one.

Now it seems Ian is hell-bent on destroying me.

CHAPTER 3

3

The two women sat at either end of a small pine table, both staring at the bowls of soup in front of them. As if by some unspoken command, they picked up their spoons at the same time and slowly started to scoop the dark brown liquid into their mouths.

A single low-wattage bulb dangled above them, creating a pool of light in the centre of the table, leaving the rest of the room in shadow. The only sound was the clink of metal spoons on earthenware bowls.

For a few moments neither of them spoke.

‘She’s gone, then,’ the younger of the two finally said, pushing her straggly hair behind her ears. The other one grunted in agreement and carried on eating. ‘She was ready, I think.’

Another grunt was all she got by way of response. The woman opposite was next in line. She had been there the longest, and was preparing herself for the day when she would leave, when her time and her usefulness were done.

‘At least we get a break now,’ the young woman said, trying once more to start a conversation.

There was no answer, but slowly the other woman lifted hollow eyes to look at her.

‘I’m ready to go,’ she said finally. ‘I don’t want to wait any longer.’

They rarely spoke. At times they weren’t allowed to, but when they were down here, alone, they could – if they wanted to. Usually they were too tired, too lethargic, and there was always so much to do.

The young woman felt as if every bone in her body had turned to jelly. It was hard to find the strength to get through the day, and she had to force herself to get out of bed each morning.