‘Well, here we go,’ he said. He sounded almost cheerful.

Grace grabbed his sleeve. ‘Please don’t,’ she said. ‘There must be some other way. I could talk to Dr Logan, I’m sure he could do something …’

‘There’s nothing he can do, Nurse. There’s nothing anyone can do.’

The train appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. Before she could stop him, Captain Jeffers had wrenched himself free from Grace’s grasp.

‘Captain Jeffers!’ she called out to him, but he was already striding purposefully towards the edge of the platform, pushing his way through the throng of people.

Grace covered her face with her hands, her whole body tensing as she waited. The train brakes screeched, filling her head with sound …

And then it was all over.

When Grace looked up again, Captain Jeffers was standing alone on the platform’s edge. He was sobbing.

‘I couldn’t do it,’ he cried. ‘Damn it, I really am a coward, aren’t I?’

Grace rushed over to him and pulled him away from the edge of the platform.

‘Listen to me,’ she said firmly. ‘There’s nothing cowardly about wanting to live.’

‘But why?’ He stared at her, his face ravaged with tears. ‘Why should I want to live? It’s not as if I have anything to live for.’

‘That’s not true.’ Grace guided him another few steps from the edge. ‘Surely you have your family.’

He shook his head. ‘My father is ashamed of me. Thinks I’m weak for letting my nerves get the better of me. He told me himself, he would have been happier if I’d died a hero’s death.’

‘No!’ Grace stared at him, shocked.

‘And my fiancée has broken off our engagement. She doesn’t want to be with a coward, either.’

‘Then she doesn’t deserve you,’ Grace said staunchly. ‘You’re a fine man, Captain Jeffers. You can’t help being ill.’

‘But I’m not ill, am I? That’s the point.’ He rubbed his eyes. ‘God, I’m just so tired …’

There was another train coming. Grace could feel the rumble beneath her feet. She still had hold of Captain Jeffers’ sleeve, the rough fabric of his hospital uniform gripped between her fingers.

A sudden thought occurred to her.

‘What if you were to get on the train instead?’ she said.

Captain Jeffers stared at her blankly. ‘What?’

‘Get on the train. I’ll tell them I couldn’t find you.’

‘Desert, you mean?’ He straightened up. Even through his tears, Grace could see a trace of affronted pride in his face.

‘Why not? You said yourself you can’t face being sent back to France.’

The train was coming closer. Captain Jeffers stared up the line towards the mouth of the tunnel. ‘But where would I go?’

‘Anywhere you like. Make a new life for yourself. Here.’ Grace rummaged in her purse and pulled out a ten-shilling note. ‘Take this. I know it isn’t much, but if you write to me at the nurses’ home, I’ll send you some more.’

The train appeared at the mouth of the tunnel. Grace could see Captain Jeffers’ expression change. He took a step towards the platform edge, but she held on to him firmly.