‘Well thanks so much. You make me sound like a pothole in the road!’ She liked being here too, for some reason, even now that he was awake. It reminded her of being with Rachel. It was a strange feeling, as if she’d come home again. She couldn’t explain it if she tried, but it almost felt as if her world had turned in some indefinable way when she’d met him. It was ridiculous of course, to think that three seconds could change your whole life, and yet… Here she was; her life had changed beyond anything she’d have imagined before she put her finger on that button to cross the road. Hadn’t she spent the days in the run-up to that, thinking of little more than Eddie proposing to her and that engagement ring and, maybe, a version of a happy ever after that she’d always craved?

And now, well, after finding that note, she knew that if she was ever going to find her happy ever after she’d have to start looking for it without Eddie in the picture. Maybe, she realised too, it wasn’t that Finn reminded her of Rachel, as much as he somehow reminded her of herself. And possibly, that was just what she needed at the moment.

‘Oh no, not like a pothole.’ He was laughing now, jerking her out of her thoughts. ‘You’re much more entertaining than that. And to be honest, even if you weren’t good company, it’s just nice to have someone to talk to; seriously, it’s a long time to be tied here to these machines.’ He shook his head. ‘Perhaps, if they transfer me onto a recovery ward tomorrow I’ll be able to go walkabout,’ he said now.

‘I’m sure you will, in no time. For now though, you just have to rest.’

‘Would you let me buy you coffee on your break, if they allow me out of here?’ He was pulling himself up to watch her and she leant in to straighten the pillows at his back.

‘Sure, but it’s a much longer walk than you might think.’ She knew that getting out of bed that first time might take a lot more of his energy than he realised and the coffee shop was at the furthest end of the hospital from the general wards.

‘Well, if they’ll let me out, I’m holding you to meeting up for coffee tomorrow on your break!’ He looked beyond her now to where Estelle was coming back onto the ward. ‘Ah, that didn’t take long,’ he said changing the subject and winking at Liv.