Potton Park was a popular family venue for young mothers to take prams and picnics, and it was for the most part open and pretty. Ella parked easily beneath a series of huge pines and got out. The wind had died down and she left her gloves and hat in the car. She stretched a little to warm her muscles, and fixed her headphones. Running was her sanctuary. Inside her own world, away from children, husband, shopping and cooking, she could listen to her music, wash away tension and feel invigorated by the outdoors. She set her iPhone to record her circuit; she planned on doing a figure of eight around the pond and the summer pool. The pool was really a splash area for tiny children and hers were far too old to enjoy it. It had jets of water that squirted up to surprise toddlers and give tired mums a break. It was actually quite pretty.

As she set off, she could see a group of people in the distance; she realised as she got closer that it was an outdoor exercise class. The trainer shouted instructions and the participants – all women – ran up and down, taking it in turns to shuttle and do press-ups. It looked like fun. The instructor waved at her and she waved back.

She lost sight of them and rounded a corner sheltered by large trees, still smiling from sharing a connection with fellow exercisers. As she ran, she concentrated on the rhythm of her feet.

Suddenly the wind was knocked out of her by a collision. At first, she had no idea what she’d hit. Her headphones had fallen out, and she tried to look around for them, but her legs had collapsed and she found herself on the floor. There was no pain at first, and she was momentarily puzzled: surely something knocking her to the ground would hurt? But then a throbbing, searing agony the likes of which she’d never experienced burned her back, and she found to her horror that she couldn’t move. Another blow thudded into her, and she looked up to see two men standing over her. She didn’t know them, but their expressions were screwed up in anger and rage, and something else: excitement? They were so young…

She heard them run away, and struggled to breathe. In her mind, she tried to put her hand over where the pain was, but in reality, she couldn’t lift it. She saw that she was surrounded by a pool of blood and she quickly realised that it belonged to her; it was coming out of her. She was lying on her side, and her whole body began to shake. Her vision started to blur. Saliva dribbled out of her mouth, and she coughed. The acute stinging turned to a dark ache, and she closed her eyes. She’d been attacked. It was serious.