‘Holy crap.’ Shirley had forgotten all about feeling sorry for herself. The conversation had cheered her up no end. There was sometimes nothing better than realising that other people were also struggling. ‘Well, she kept that to herself.’

‘You would, though, wouldn’t you,’ Janet mused, ‘if your so-called business partner showed up dead after screwing you over.’

‘You don’t think …’ Shirley held her breath.

‘I’m not saying that, but it doesn’t look good for her, does it?’ Janet smiled and plunged a mouthful of tepid noodles into her mouth, chewing thoughtfully. ‘You got any plans tonight?’

‘I’ve just finished work. I’m sitting in the car park.’ The wave of melancholy came back and hit Shirley in the chest.

‘I’m staying in, if you want to come over? We could watch TV, or something.’ Janet was facing another quiet, lonely night in.

‘Kayla’s at home. She needs dinner.’ Shirley dreaded returning to her house and wished she could accept Janet’s invitation. ‘Another time, yeah?’

‘Sure.’ Her disappointment rang through the word.

‘Right, well, I can’t sit here all day. I’d better get going. Speak soon.’ And with that, Shirley hung up.

Janet sat in the dim room, looking down at her bowl of cold, soggy noodles. She didn’t normally feel sorry for herself but, on this occasion, she felt let down. She’d been trying to do Shirley a favour and cheer her up, but as was typical of their friendship, it was a one-way street.

Fed up of being let down by Shirley, Janet decided she wouldn’t sit and sulk, and would instead take herself out of the crappy flat and go for a walk. The weather had perked up and blue sky was beginning to break through.

Pulling the door closed behind her and locking it, Janet lifted her face towards the warm sunshine. She felt better already.

With her mobile phone in her pocket, she put in her headphones and started to listen to an audio book she’d recently downloaded on Shirley’s recommendation. It was a domestic noir, which was just the sort of thing Janet enjoyed reading. The book started off well and the narrator pulled her in as she walked along, enjoying herself and feeling less alone.