It was after she’d been to the X-ray department and was waiting in a cubicle for a doctor, Zinnia and Isaac standing beside the bed in silence, that Roma turned up, as pale as snow but for red-rimmed eyes. ‘Lily, darling.’ Roma took Lily’s good hand and gently stroked it. ‘What have you been doing to yourself?’

Heart overflowing with sadness and remorse, Lily began to cry. ‘I’m sorry, Mum. I’m so sorry. Zinnia told me you and Patsie are splitting up all because of me and I’m so sorry.’ She paused to suck in air, feeling as if her lungs wouldn’t expand enough.

Roma perched on the side of the bed, squeezing Lily’s good hand. ‘I don’t know what you mean, darling.’ Her voice wavered. ‘Patsie has found someone else. How can that be your fault?’

Zinnia gave a horrified gasp.

Roma took one of her hands too. ‘I’m sorry if I’m the one to tell you that, Zin. There’s a woman she met at the music appreciation society. You know how she likes all that classical stuff and I’m more into Meatloaf. Anyway.’ She gave a gurgle that could equally have been a laugh or a sob. ‘She’s moved into a hotel for now. We’ll have to see if there’s anything to be salvaged.’

‘Holy crap,’ breathed Zinnia. ‘You said it was something that happened over the past few months but had been coming for a long time and I thought you meant Lily’s situation.’

Roma laughed bitterly. ‘If “Lily’s situation” as you call it was going to split us up it would have done it thirty-six years ago, not now.’

A doctor arrived to tell Lily that she had crush injuries to her left hand – she already knew that – tendons were damaged but no bones broken. He talked about soft tissue and contusions. Said the skin had torn but it didn’t need stitching. A nurse was going to put her hand in a sling and she should keep it elevated as much as possible.

‘Are you left- or right-handed?’ asked the nurse as the doctor swished off to her next cubicle of pain.

‘Left,’ said Lily wearily, gazing down at the red, bloodied, swollen mess of her left hand that the nurse was gently cleaning. Roma and Zinnia had gone into a huddle in the corner and Lily could see Zinnia making explanations and Roma tutting and muttering at her.

‘It’s often the way. It’s the dominant hand that’s injured because it’s the one people automatically stick out,’ said the nurse. ‘I’m going to give you some codeine for the next couple of days and after that you’ll be able to manage with paracetamol and ibuprofen. What’s your job?’

‘I did this working part-time in a pub,’ Lily sighed. ‘My other job only needs a computer.’