I walk back towards my flat, clutching the memory jar to my chest like it’s the most precious item in the world. It’s amazing to think that something as simple as reading a book has helped someone. And for the first time in a long time, I can’t help but feel proud of myself.

Chapter 33

I can’t believe it’s not even been a week since I got the call about Dad. It seems like a lifetime ago. Between work and checking in on him, I haven’t had a chance to pick up my car – the one I abandoned outside Soph’s house when Joel drove me to the hospital on Monday.

But this weekend is the first opportunity I’ve had to collect it. I spend most of the train journey trying to work out a plan to divide Dad’s workload. I desperately don’t want him to return to a backlog of work, for fear of making his condition worse, but Layla and Claire are right, it shouldn’t have to fall on my shoulders alone. Aaron and Claire are more than capable of taking on extra responsibility and if we hire a temp to pick up some of their admin then it might just work. I finish my notes and, even though I haven’t told anyone else my plan, my shoulders feel that little bit lighter.

We can’t be far away from Westerly so I pack up my papers and I pull out my phone, ready to check the news, when I realise that I haven’t checked my personal emails yet, not since yesterday afternoon. I get that little tingly feeling of anticipation, wondering if I’m going to find one last email before they all stop. I open my inbox and scan through marketing emails, and my stomach does a flip as I see the familiar little words, note to future self: hey!!!!

I’m about to click on it when I spot another one below it, only it’s not from me.

I open it up, confused and wondering what the hell’s going on.