‘Sats, Mum,’ I prompt her. God, I feel so fucking helpless, standing here in this marble bathroom as my daughter fights for every breath in a crowded A&E.

‘We have the oximeter on,’ Mum says. ‘Hang on, darling. Let’s see. Eighty-one.’

I blow out a breath. This is hopeless. ‘Mum. Listen to me. You need to do whatever it takes to get her seen, okay? She needs oxygen now. I don’t care how busy it is or how big of a bitch you need to be. You need to track down whoever you can and shout as loudly as you can until she gets treated. She needs you to be her voice. Don’t let her down.’ My mum is usually a strident woman, but I can tell this is knocking her for six. I feel bad as soon as I say that last part, but now is not the time to be meek and polite. Not for me. Not for my parents. If I can’t get there, then I damn well need them to forget about their natural inclination to bow to medical authorities and behave nicely. I need them to shout and scream their way to getting Tabs the help she requires.

‘Okay, darling,’ Mum says, and I wish, I really wish that I could hear less fear and more steeliness in her voice right now. I glance at my watch. Just after five.

‘I’ll be there as soon as I can, alright? I’ll try to sneak out of work early. Keep me posted. Can you put me on with Tabs?’

‘She’s struggling to breathe,’ Mum says. ‘She won’t be able to talk.’

‘I don’t care. Just put me on, please. And go flag down a doctor over there.’

There’s some feedback and the mutter of voices as Mum gives Dad the phone and instructs him to hold it to Tabby’s ear.

‘Tabs? You there, sweetie?’

I hear some ragged breathing and a choked whimper, and I swear it makes me want to rip my heart out of my lungs and give her my own bloody pulmonary valve. I sniff hard and make my voice sound as calm as possible.

‘Listen to me, darling. I’m so sorry I’m not there, but Granny and Grandpa are going to keep you safe while you wait for a doctor, okay?’

The door to the loos flies open and Elaine comes in, concern written all over her kind face. She stops dead at the sight of me in such a state but doesn’t leave. Fuck. Right now, having Elaine rumble me is the least of my worries. I force myself to keep talking to Tabs as if I’m alone.