So I take off my shoes and pad barefoot through the grass in the fading light. The park gates are still open but the glass house is locked. I hurry around the back and find that the back door is also locked. There’s a key in the door inside so I take off my jacket and wrap it around my fist. I smash the window and wait for the alarm to sound, but it doesn’t and I grab the key and unlock the door.

Once inside I retrieve the laptop. I sit down breathless and check my phone. No calls yet, but I catch a glimpse of my slutty self in the phone reflection and begin to laugh. Not at the situation, because that’s still tragic, but at the fact that this is the first time I’ve managed to break the cycle. The first time I’ve actually thought that I was getting somewhere.

The Metrolink is just at the other side of the park and I carry the laptop around to the stop. My fingers are itching to log on to made-up Monica’s profile and I almost feel upbeat. The tram rumbles in and it’s virtually deserted. I quickly buy an all-day ticket and find a seat right at the back.

I momentarily wonder if the account has been removed. But I haven’t done anything wrong, have I? Although you were clearly having sex with Christine, the picture was hardly pornographic. I’ve seen much worse on Facebook. I click into Monica’s account and see she has fourteen messages. I vaguely wonder if the police can see I’ve logged in, or if they will even be bothered. Someone is robbing cheating fucking husbands in local hotels, so a Facebook post is hardly going to be part of their to-do list, is it?

So you’ve messaged Monica. I knew you would. All Official and Jack-like, of course.

Please remove the pictures of me you have posted or you will face legal action.

So you’re having doubts, are you? Getting a bit confused? Wondering if it really is me doing this? It’s horrible when you don’t trust your own instincts, isn’t it? When you feel sure you know the truth but everyone else tells you that you are wrong. If you thought Monica was definitely me you would have private messaged me. By name. I know you, Jack.

Chapter Ten

My head’s banging now and I jump off the tram in the city centre and go into Costa Coffee. I buy a bottle of water and a large cappuccino and find a seat.