‘Type O bloods,’ she said, picking out a donor card. There were credit cards, a debit card, a couple of cards for franchise coffee shops that looked like he’d never used them. There was cash, notes and coins. A small St Christopher medal, the saint of travellers, or was he yet another decommissioned saint? It didn’t matter – she prayed he’d look after Finn O’Connell now. She replaced them all again, her hands shaking so much she almost dropped them as the ambulance reversed and parked in the emergency bay. Liv thought they’d never get him into the hospital fast enough.

‘Well, you’re not going to be much good to anyone this evening.’ The older EMT touched her arm kindly. ‘We can leave you home after this, if you’d like. I’ll let the matron know that you’ve had a shock.’ But of course, she’d been on her way off duty, although she didn’t have the words to tell him that at the moment. Finally, just as they’d gotten Finn O’Connell safely unloaded and Liv was carrying the gift that had been tucked into his coat pocket, she heard the midnight bells ring out across the city. Churches dotted all about calling out the fact that it was midnight; finally, it was the first day of Christmas.

*

The sound of her phone, ringing out in her bag pulled her back to the real world. It was Pete, wondering if he could collect her yet. Worst possible timing, as a road traffic guard stood at her elbow waiting to take down her statement. She started to shiver, overloaded with the shock of it all.

‘Liv, where are you? Is everything okay?’ Pete could hear the commotion around her.

‘It’s okay, I was just on my way to the bus, but there’s been an accident,’ Liv said, aware that she was shaking; even the muscles in her face felt as if they were wired to some crazy rhythm beyond her control.

‘Oh, dear God. Are you all right?’ There was no missing the worry in Pete’s voice.

‘No, not me, I’m fine, a bit shaken, but fine. It was a motorbike accident, on the road. The place is like a bottle out here. I’m just going back in to the hospital with a man who’s been knocked over. He’s…’ Liv looked down at him now. She couldn’t say another word; her breath caught in her chest. Please, don’t die. It was all she could think.

‘So you’re sure you’re okay?’ Pete’s words were wound up tight with worry.

‘Really, I’m grand. It all just happened so quickly, right before my eyes and…’