‘Yes,’ I say, and then, taking a deep breath, I tell her about the night I heard Elspeth singing. I tell her about Sean’s diary and his accusations. I explain the phone call from Sharon and the woman’s name on the estate agents’ notes; the storage unit and all my things packed away in boxes marked ‘The Bitch’.

‘Okay, Maggie,’ she says, her voice a steady contrast to my agitated one. ‘Let’s slow down a bit. What I’m most concerned about here is what you’ve just told me about hearing voices.’

‘You think I’m going mad, don’t you?’ I say, sitting up straight. ‘But I’m not – I –’

‘No, I don’t think you’re going mad but I do think, taking into account your medical history, we have to act fast on this.’

I feel exposed. She is seeing my past, all the horrors I’ve hidden for so long. She knows what I’m capable of.

‘And for that reason I’m going to prescribe a different form of anti-anxiety medication,’ she says. ‘I’ll print off the prescription first thing tomorrow morning then either you or Sonia can come and collect it.’

‘More pills?’ I say.

Julia nods her head.

‘I think you’ll find these a lot gentler but no less effective,’ she says.

She stands up from the bed and straightens her jacket.

‘I’ll let Sonia know,’ she says. ‘In the meantime, do try to get plenty of rest, eat well and let’s organize an appointment at the surgery in a week’s time to see how the medication is going.’

I nod my head then watch as she opens the door and steps out into the hallway. I hear her talking to Sonia about the prescription and then all is quiet. A couple of minutes later the door opens and Sonia comes in.

‘I brought you a cup of tea,’ she says, putting a bulky blue mug down on the table beside me. ‘How are you feeling?’

I can’t think how to answer truthfully, so I close my eyes and lay my head back on the pillow.

‘I know this is hard, Maggie,’ she says, sitting down beside me. ‘And if I’m honest I’ve never had to deal with someone who’s gone through what you have. My last job was an old woman with mobility problems and the one before that was a middle-aged fella who’d broken his leg. He was a stubborn old sod that one. Anyway, what I’m saying is that in my eyes you’re doing amazingly considering what you’ve been through.’

‘Thank you, Sonia,’ I say.