April breaks the eye contact. ‘Maybe there comes a time when we start to see what love looks like. And when we do, we see everything that came before for what it really was. Does that sound a bit … cheesy?’

Will shakes his head. They’re pressed against each other now, so they both feel it when Will’s phone vibrates again. ‘Did you tell Danny it was me?’

‘Maybe he’s worked it out,’ April whispers centimetres from Will’s face. Her hot breath is sweet with the champagne. ‘He can do one.’

‘Right. So, were you serious, you know, about what you said? About wanting to, you know, with this new guy?’

April sniggers awkwardly and doesn’t look Will in the eye. ‘If that’s what he wants.’

Will leans forward till their lips meet.

‘Oh get a fucking room, you two,’ Kris says, stamping across the stage. ‘Leavers and Simon can point you in the right direction, I’m sure.’

‘Patience,’ April whispers, pecking Will on the lips. ‘Let’s get this done, and we’ll have all the time in the world tonight.’

Will reluctantly takes his hands off her. ‘Can’t wait.’

Once again, the spell is broken by his phone demanding attention.

A worrying thought occurs to him: maybe Danny’s got urgent news about Nain. He reads the text that just landed.

Stop fucking ignoring me.

No. Clearly he’s just spoiling for a fight.

Mum would call, he thinks. If it was Nain, Mum would let me know.

Standing alone with no one needing his help, Will dwells on his visit to Nain first thing. Pumped full of morphine and muscle relaxants and God knows what else, she was still fighting on.

She’s been unconscious for a week now, but Will was sure he could feel the tension in her as he held her hand, winter sun bathing them. He didn’t dare ask the nurses for a time frame, knowing too well she’s outlived their predictions already.

He talked to her about school and photography and books – don’t they say hearing’s the last thing to go? – and told her about the disco, how he was playing tonight. He mused aloud that perhaps he should be here today, instead of there, a sense of duty gripping him. As much as he told himself it was his imagination, he was certain he felt Nain’s arm flinch at the very suggestion.

‘OK, OK,’ he said with a smile, knowing he was attributing a signal to someone who’d long lost the ability. ‘I’ll go. Let me sit here a little longer, though. Promise I’ll bugger off soon.’

I’ve been petrified of this for years, Will thought as he held her cool hand in that hot room. And now it’s here.

And I’m not scared. Not like I should be.