Alone once more, I force myself to eat the rest of the sandwich, even though every mouthful tastes like concrete in my mouth and I have to drink way more water than is sensible to wash it down. I know I need the energy to get through the rest of my shift though, so I plough doggedly through it. Even the chocolate bar that I normally relish feels like a chore to eat. Luke obviously isn’t going to let this go. What the hell am I going to do?

21

‘You have to take this to HR, Tills. Dr Rogers is right – it’s bullying.’ Tash’s voice is uncompromising down the phone.

‘I know, but it’s not as simple as that. If I take it to HR then the whole story will come out, and there’s no guarantee they’ll actually do any more than slap him on the wrist, which will only piss him off more. Plus, it’s my word against his.’

‘No, it isn’t, because Dr Rogers clearly saw what was going on.’

‘I don’t know, Tash.’

‘It’s not going to come out, Tills. There are procedures they have to follow. If you don’t report him, what’s to stop him getting even more full-on with the next nurse he decides to turn his attention to? And bullying is more than a slapped-wrist offence. He’ll be suspended while they look into it, and that’s just for starters.’

‘I’ll think about it. I’ve blocked his number, obviously, but he’s left me a charming hand-delivered note.’

‘What did it say?’

‘Oh, the usual stuff you’d expect from Luke. He’s changed his story yet again, of course. Now he’s “regretfully” ending our relationship because he thinks I’m too emotionally intense and he can’t give me what I need.’

‘You’re kidding.’

‘Nope. I nearly unblocked his number so I could write back and tell him that finding out your boyfriend was married with a pregnant wife is likely to make any sane woman a bit emotionally intense, but I’m trying to be the bigger person here. Anyway, I’m hoping that this latest incarnation of Luke’s fantasy world means he’s planning to leave me alone going forwards.’

‘We can hope, I guess. Talking of dodgy ethics, how’s the ex-patient you’re so keen on?’

‘I’m not keen on him, Tash. He’s probably older than Dad! He is nice though, and we’ve kind of bonded over the crossword.’

‘How very twentieth century. He has a son, doesn’t he? What’s he like?’

‘Nice, in a reserved kind of way, but there’s nothing happening there.’

‘Why? Has he got three heads or something?’

‘Bloody hell, Tash. The last thing I want is another man right now. I need time to let the dust settle on the Luke disaster. A long time.’

‘Hm.’