‘We’ll see how things settle or improve over the coming days and check what other support we can offer. See if you need speech therapy. You know we’ll be appointing a social worker, don’t you? We’re aware you live alone and your son-in-law tells me that his house wouldn’t be suitable for you as it is, so we need to look at the best options going forwards.’

I took a breath. Every word required effort.

‘Want to go home,’ I stuttered.

‘I know that, Elizabeth,’ the doctor said. ‘That’ll be our aim, but we have to be practical, too. We have to make sure you’re looked after. Is there any other family we should be in touch with? Siblings, nieces or nephews?’

I shook my head. My only sister had lived in England for the last forty-seven years and we saw each other once a year at most. Her family were grown, lived in England, too. I didn’t have a big family to fall back on. I didn’t even feel it fair to worry her by calling. Although my son-in-law had overruled me on that and had insisted she was told anyway.

‘She’s booking a flight,’ he’d told me when he was in earlier. ‘Her daughter’s coming with her. She wondered, could she stay in the farmhouse?’

I’d nodded, although what she’d make of my ramshackle home was anyone’s guess. It had been in a much better condition the last time she’d been over. For Laura’s wake and funeral. I suppose I’d let it go since then, even more so since my accident.

Lying in my hospital bed, I couldn’t get Laura out of my mind. She was in my thoughts, more so than before. I kept getting a feeling there was something about her that I needed to tell someone. I was sure I’d seen her in the house, when my head had started to spin, even though I knew that wasn’t possible. Ever since, I’d felt her with me. Close by. But not close enough to reach.

Maybe it was that life-flashing-before-your-eyes thing people talk about. I’d had patients swear it to me before, when they’d had a scare. That they could see their loved ones waiting for them on the other side. She was there, I was sure of it. Waiting for me.

I wished I’d gone to her. Instead, here I was, the left side of my body numb, more useless than it had been before; the nurses having to feed me and change me and my memory sketchy at best. And what did I have to look forward to? Life in a care home? Old before my time. Or alone, in an empty house, with just the occasional visits from Max and Ava to keep me going.