“Please, let’s get it over with,” Marcy whispered hoarsely. It’s only my face, she was telling herself, and however it looks I’ll find a way to cope with it. The fact it might make her want to kill herself when she saw what she’d become was something she’d have to decide on later.

“I think I’ll call Mr. Laghari,” Ruth stated. “Just him. We don’t have to tell the others.”

Marcy shook her head. She was as prepared for the shock as she’d ever be; now she needed to get on with it, but not with everyone watching. She’d already explained to Ruth that she wanted it to be as private a moment as she could make it and would have done it alone if she’d been able to fetch a mirror without assistance. She didn’t even want Claudia present—she especially didn’t want her there—for she didn’t want her daughter to see her reaction in case it was bad.

Taking a doubtful step closer Ruth put the mirror into Marcy’s right hand.

Marcy held it low for a moment, steeling herself, then turning the glass over, she lifted it up so that the frame was surrounding her face.

Her heart stopped in shock. What she saw was so much worse than she’d feared. She was grotesque, a monster; how could anyone bear to look at her? How terrible it must be for Claudia and Jasmine. She couldn’t even understand how the medical team was able to bear it. She felt so sick inside, so appalled and afraid that she wanted her life to end right that minute.

CLAUDIA SAT QUIETLY at the side of her mother’s bed and covered her good hand with her own. She knew what had happened with the mirror, Ruth had told her as soon as she’d arrived; apparently Marcy had said nothing then, or since.

Claudia could feel her heart breaking as she looked down at her mother, face turned away to mask the devastation that she’d now seen for herself. Her right eye was open, staring at nothing, and she didn’t in any way acknowledge that she knew Claudia was there.

“Why didn’t you wait for me?” Claudia asked softly.

Marcy gave no answer, didn’t even move. It was as if she hadn’t heard, or had somehow transported herself to a place no one could reach her.

“It won’t always be like that,” Claudia said, trying to comfort her. “It’s still early days . . .”

“Please talk about something else,” Marcy croaked.

Claudia fell silent, unable to think of anything else. Perhaps it had been too soon for the mirror—was there ever a right time?—but her mother had seemed to want it, or she hadn’t objected when her consultant, Rohan, had suggested they start preparing for it.