As Franny backed against the wall, she burst into manic laughter, loud and frenzied. ‘I know it’s not you, Bree. It can’t be you … I know you’re not real.’ She continued to shake as she glanced around the room but as she spun round, Franny screamed, thinking that she’d seen someone behind her. She began to shoot; firing off bullets, shot after shot, emptying the cartridge on her automatic weapon, but then she froze. Her breathing staggered and hard, she stared in upset confusion, realising that she hadn’t been shooting at anyone at all, only her own reflection in the large mirror on the wall.

‘What’s going on?’ Alfie, holding his phone, walked into the bedroom, shocked at the sight of the place strewn with clothes and the mirror shot out. He looked at Franny in disbelief. ‘Franny, what the fuck has gone on here?’

Wide-eyed, Franny stared at Alfie. ‘Leave me alone. You hear me? Just leave me alone.’

She tried to run out of the room, but Alfie grabbed her, drawing her in to him. ‘You are going to tell me what is going on because I’m not leaving here until you do. You’ve been lying to me, haven’t you, Fran?’

Silently, and with her breathing still short and shallow, Franny nodded.

‘Are you going to tell me about it?’

Shaking, she stared at him, tears rolling down her face as she nodded again.

‘Is it bad?’

Again, Franny nodded, but this time she managed to whisper the words, ‘It’s really bad, Alf, it’s really bad and I don’t think you’ll ever forgive me. I can’t even forgive myself.’

Such concern filled Alfie’s eyes that Franny had to glance away. ‘Fran, how about I make a deal with you. If you tell me now, then we leave it here, within these walls. Whatever it is, I promise I won’t bring it up again. We don’t have to talk about it unless you want to. Even if it’s killing me inside. I give you my word, I’ll make sure it won’t break us.’

Franny sobbed. ‘Alf, once you know what it is, it can’t do anything but break us.’

‘You’re scaring me now, Franny. Is there someone else? Is that it? I know I said I could never forgive you if you cheated on me, but I could get over it. It might break my heart, it might bruise my ego, but to keep you, I would do anything.’

Franny took in Alfie’s handsome face. She took in his care and love, and briefly and gently she kissed him on his lips. ‘I wish it was that, but it’s much worse.’

Alfie gave her a sad smile. ‘Worse than that?’

Again, Franny nodded.

Alfie only half joking said, ‘Killing someone ain’t even worse than that.’