And at this stage, now that Liv understood that, could plan for it, well, it was endearing. It meant he needed her, probably more than anyone ever had. She took a deep breath, closed her eyes tight. This is for Eddie. ‘I just feel very wobbly now –it’s probably shock.’ It wasn’t a lie. Her hands were shaking, her whole body, occasionally taken over by an engulfing tremor, and yet, she felt guilty. Oh, God, the guilt of leaving a complete stranger in the best possible care was making her feel sick to her stomach almost as much as the shock of seeing the accident.

‘It’s been a shock, but lucky for everyone, you were here when it happened.’ The older EMT placed an arm about her shoulder and in a gentle voice added, ‘Maybe you should get checked over before you go?’

‘No, no, there’s no need for that, I’m fine really. I’m just a little shocked. The guy who was run over, well, he pushed me out of the way. I might have been killed but for him,’ she said and she was glad to be here to settle him in before she left. It was the very least she could do. She wouldn’t leave him until she was sure he was in the best possible hands. Liv would get him moved up the chain so he saw a surgeon straight away, no faffing about with registrars or trainee doctors who were too tired to realise they should have gone home hours ago.

‘If you’re sure. You just take care of yourself and I’ll see you in a few days.’

The whole thing made Liv feel like a fraud. She stood for a moment. Thoughts of the trip home, the holiday season, her impending supposedly surprise engagement all flooded from her mind. Suddenly, the sweet notion that her life finally was slipping into place evaporated, and it was replaced by a heavy sensation that weighed on her irrationally. Instead, she thought of Francine and the doctors and nurses who would have a truly crap Christmas covering everyone’s shifts as well as their own.

‘There’s no point going home and feeling rotten when you can get checked out before you leave.’ The EMT winked at her.

‘No, no, really I’m fine, just… worried about this patient before I leave.’ She shook her head, noticing his slightly lopsided smile.

‘Well, just you be sure to make the most of it now.’ He took the patient notes she’d been carrying from her. ‘Go on now, you’ve done your bit here. I’ll make sure he’s well looked after.’

It seemed that she was just in the way after all. She had no business here, not really. She wasn’t a relative and nor was she his nurse. It was time to step aside and let Finn O’Connell get the best care he could get.