Before I had a chance to turn away, Henry had stood up, taking two huge strides up to him.

‘Give me the phone.’

The man shuffled back in the chair, eyes darting frantically. ‘What?’

‘Give me your phone.’

‘Um, why?’

‘So I can delete the photos you just took of my friend.’ Henry’s face appeared neutral but his voice dripped with contempt. ‘This is a hospital. You should get thrown out for this.’

To the surprise of everyone now watching, the man burst into tears. ‘I’m sorry.’ He handed his phone to Henry, and then leant past him to look at me. ‘I’m sorry, Bea, just it’s my missus in there, Marge. She loves you. She always cooks dinner for quarter to seven so we can sit and watch your weather thing. Says it proves there are still people out there who care about each other. Since we lost our Noah, well. It gave her a bit of faith back that the world ain’t all rotten.’ He stopped to take in a shuddering breath, swiping the tears and other mess off his face with his coat sleeve. ‘She’s in a bad way, and I thought it might help her, knowing you’d been in here, too.’

‘You could have tried asking,’ Henry said, his tone notably less annoyed as he deleted the shots.

‘Yeah. Didn’t want to bother you.’ He ducked his head. ‘I can see this was worse. I’m very sorry to have intruded on your privacy. I’ll find somewhere else to wait.’

He took his phone back and started shuffling off, but before he’d reached the door my heart had taken over my head, as usual.

‘Hang on.’ I walked over to him, placing one hand on his arm. ‘Henry, do you mind taking a picture for – what’s your name?’

‘Alf.’

‘For Alf to show Marge once he’s able to see her?’

‘I don’t mind.’ Henry raised one eyebrow. ‘Are you sure you don’t?’

I stood with Alf while Henry took a few shots, by which time three more people were hovering tentatively nearby.

‘Um, would you mind…?’ a woman with a young boy asked, holding up her phone.

‘Not at all. As long as you can keep them to yourselves, for now. We’re waiting until morning to let all of our family know why we’re here.’

After taking a few more photos, and exchanging some brief words of sympathy along with a couple of hugs, I sat back down.

‘That really wasn’t necessary,’ Henry muttered stiffly, once everyone had settled back in their own seats.

‘Maybe not. But it’s better than the alternative.’