Frank Tattersall had degraded and humiliated her in every way possible. Now it was her turn. The payback was long overdue. The only pain she felt was for her children, but Molly would keep them safe, she knew that.

A few moments later, she took her belongings from the bedside locker, and quietly made her way to the bathroom. No one stopped her. No one saw her.

Inside the bathroom she laid out her clothes – a cotton slip and bra, with white sturdy knickers and brown nylon stockings. These latter were her most treasured possession, since even three years after the war, it still wasn’t easy to find them at a price you could afford. She carefully unfolded the plain brown skirt and blue jumper that had seen better days, black shoes with stubby heels and ankle strap, and a grey, button-up jacket which Rosie had given her last year.

Wasting no time, she washed and dressed, combed her brown hair and dabbed on a dusting of rouge to brighten her pale cheekbones. A touch of treasured lipstick, bought for her by Molly, and she was ready to face the world.

Staring at her image in the mirror, she saw a thin, weary woman at the end of her tether. All the same, it was a bad thing she was doing, and she knew it. ‘May God forgive me,’ she murmured, and quickly made her way to the sister’s office. ‘I’m signing myself out,’ she said, and the sister, looking up from her work, was astonished.

‘Why didn’t you mention this to the doctor while he was here?’ The sister liked orderly routine and everything in its proper place.

‘I hadn’t altogether made up my mind,’ Amy lied. ‘But I have now, and I must get home to the children. Eddie’s been crying for me, and Bertha’s started wetting the bed again. They need their mammy. Besides, I’m sure you would not want a repeat of last night, when my husband caused an uproar in the ward. The trouble is, he’s likely to be here again tonight and every other night until I go home.’

The sister hesitated, her mind going back to the doctor’s warning. ‘I see. You do understand that if you sign yourself out, the hospital cannot be held responsible?’

‘I understand.’

‘Are you absolutely certain you know what you’re doing?’

‘I was never more sure.’

‘The young woman who was here with you…?’

‘That was Molly. My eldest.’

‘Is she prepared to help you with the children?’

‘Molly’s a good girl: I can always count on her. And I have a wonderful friend and neighbour just a few doors away.’

‘Very well.’ Heaving a sigh, the sister took out a dog-eared ledger. Consulting this, she wrote out a prescription for Amy to take to the pharmacy. ‘Mind you read the instructions and take your medication religiously,’ she warned. ‘Watch for any signs of bleeding, and should there be anything at all which concerns you, I want you straight back in here. Do you understand all of this?’