I take a deep breath, then tell Lou all about finding Rhys at Susan’s house, about the book, about the lonely emptiness of her home. I describe the sudden, unexpected reaction from Rhys and our talk this morning. I tell her about my fear of having a patient who needs such specific care, and my lack of belief that I can give it. I tell her that I’m so wrapped up in my own confusion about Daniel, about work, about everything, that I feel incapable of making the right decisions about any of the things in my life right now.

Lou stays remarkably quiet throughout it all, which goes to show how seriously she is taking it. She doesn’t once surreptitiously update her Facebook profile or tweet about anything I’m saying.

‘So what are you going to do?’ she asks. I shrug, overwhelmed, confused and exhausted. ‘I’ve never seen you like this,’ she says. ‘You always know what you’re doing and how to fix things. You always have! What’s happened to change that? Why are you so… lost?’

‘I’m not lost, Lou. I’m just busy, and hurting, and confused.’

The assistant appears, hovering by me as a new gaggle of girls arrive for their appointment. Lou squeezes my hand and I squeeze back, but something about the look on her face tells me she thinks it’s more than my being busy, hurt or confused. ‘I need to get to work,’ I say, hopping off the step.

When I get out of the changing room, my uniform back in place and the weight of responsibility placed firmly back on the stripes on my arm, Lou is waiting for me, my bag in her hand. ‘Here’s your bag of trouble.’

I take it from her, checking the contents. ‘Thanks.’

‘How come you were there, anyway?’ she asks, as we go back out into the non-air-conditioned sunshine.

‘I was taking Daniel’s stuff to his mum’s.’

‘Wow, really?’ she asks, steering me away from the shop doorway.

‘Yup.’ I pull the bag onto my shoulder, as someone passes by knocking into it, jerking my arm back.

‘Was he there?’ she asks tentatively, helping me put it back on before squeezing my arm in silent support.

‘Yup.’

‘And?’

‘And so was some Amazonian beauty with impeccable hair and legs I’d kill for.’

‘Oh.’ She drops her head, looking at her feet. ‘I told you he was a loser.’

‘I know. I know you did.’

‘Maybe now you could go on that date with that consultant bloke.’

And she’s back in the room. ‘Yes, Lou. That’s just what I need in my life right now – more confusion.’

‘You need distraction. You need to move on with your life. You need… a shag!’‘Oh God, that’s the last thing on my mind right now!’ I groan.

Lou pulls me close, squeezes me tight, then plants a glossy kiss on my cheek. ‘Don’t diss it till you’ve tried it!’ She winks at me. ‘Now, go on, oh bridesmaid of mine, get yourself to work. Those patients need you! That patient. And the consultant!’ I watch as she totters away. ‘And you need you too!’ she shouts, disappearing around a corner, leaving me to catch the bus.