She wasn’t sure that she’d showered or washed her hair, but she did know that she’d slept a lot, and when she hadn’t been sleeping, she’d watched a lot of mindless television in the dark. Countdown was a particular favourite – even though the new girl wasn’t a patch on old Vorders.

There had been a lot of banging on her front door, but she hadn’t responded. Jude might have been shouting through the door too, but with a pillow over her head and the duvet pulled up, she could almost block it out.

Annie also texted her constantly to make sure that she was all right – and Lauren assured her that she was. It was the good thing about texting. No one could tell if you were lying.

Lauren lay in her bed. She had to get up. This was bad – she knew that much. It was just such an effort.

There was more banging at the front door and she pulled the pillow round her ears, holding it tightly in place.

Jude had a key, but she’d put the security chain in place and he could do nothing but rattle impotently at the lock.

The next thing, she heard the door bang open and footsteps in the flat. Clearly the bang had been the demise of the security chain. Or perhaps it wasn’t Jude at all. Perhaps she was being burgled. Let them take everything, she thought. There’s nothing of value here.

A figure came into her bedroom, a shadow looming in the darkness. But it was a shadow she recognised.

Jude flicked on the light and she shielded her eyes against it.

‘Why have you not answered my calls?’ her ex-lover shouted. ‘Why are you being like this?’

Lauren abandoned her pillow and hauled herself upright. ‘I’m being like this because I’m upset.’ ‘Upset’ was a long way short of what she was.

Jude came and sat on the edge of her bed. ‘I wanted to sort everything out with you,’ he said more quietly. ‘I have been going insane.’

Me too, Lauren thought, but she said nothing.

‘I’ve rented a flat,’ Jude told her. ‘It’s a terrible place. I didn’t know where else to go. I tried calling you . . .’

Yes. He’d certainly done that.

‘I thought that I might come here.’

She shook her head. ‘No.’

Her ex-lover took her hand and held it tightly. His eyes were brimming with tears. ‘I don’t want it to be over between us,’ he said. ‘I’m sorting everything out, just as I said I would. We can be together.’

‘Stay with Georgia,’ Lauren urged. ‘Make it up to your wife – if you can. Make it up to the kids. They’re young, they need you. Start being a good husband and a good father.’

‘I love you, Lauren,’ he said.