I snatch the photograph from her. ‘For your information, I wasn’t on drugs at that point. I mean, maybe the sleeping tablets kicked in. And I’d had quite a lot of champagne. But the cocaine I took later on was by accident anyway. I didn’t mean to do it.’

‘Because you look so sleepy in these photographs,’ Faith roars back at me. ‘And how exactly does one accidentally take drugs? Pray tell.’

‘Do you know why I don’t tell you everything any more? Because of your sanctimonious bullshit,’ I scream at her. Faith likes being the one to swoop in and save me. But I have to ask: does she want me to be successful off my own bat? She certainly didn’t want me to end up happy with Harry. Oh no, she warned me off him. And that dream! Even asleep, I never dared imagine her reaction when Harry hit on her. ‘Who do you think you are?’

‘I thought I was your best friend,’ Faith says. Sadly. So that it flummoxes me.

After everything we’ve said and everything that’s happened, I didn’t expect this. It throws me. However, I’m too upset to be reasonable – those photographs side by side, globs of fat on me and not an ounce on her.

‘You have sex with multiple men you hardly know. You parade it all on camera for everyone to hear about and you’re frantic because some trashy pictures might make a public spectacle of me? Get over yourself, Faith,’ I hiss.

‘Gracie, we’re here to help.’ It’s the first Harry has spoken since we sat down. ‘Faith suggested we—’

‘Save it, Harry.’ Faith rises sharply from the sofa. ‘I’ve had enough of this. I’ll keep my sanctimonious bullshit to myself from now on. Gracie, you’re on your own.’

In her ghetto-fabulous skinny outfit, she flounces out of my flat.

I ask Harry to leave, too. Instead, he moves closer to me on the sofa. When I catch a whiff of his gorgeous scent, I’m tempted to let him stay. But the state of me this morning – I don’t need further humiliation. When Harry touches my cheek to turn my face towards him, I’m so ashamed of myself, and my festering spot, I dash into my bedroom and slam the door behind me. ‘Can’t you all just leave me alone?’ I wail, locking myself inside.

A long time passes before I hear the front door close.

When I creep back out to the living room, I’m alone.

Harry is gone.

Faith is gone.

Jordan is long gone.

I’m completely alone.

On top of the yellow envelope is a scrawled note.

It will be OK, Gracie. We’ll fix everything. Call me. Love, Harry. PS. Sorry about my sisters, they mean well.

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