‘Because my mother is also not a good person. She’s been cruel to me my entire life, she mocks my condition, calls me names. I didn’t need the love of my life giving her more ammunition.’

Lauren looks confused.

‘He compared you to a cat, but said he loved cats? Don’t you think that, just in a very odd way, he was letting you know how much he loved you?’

‘He made fun of me, Lauren. He outed my condition. I wasn’t ready for that.’

‘Well, what did he say afterwards?’

‘He said he just wanted everyone to know that he accepted me.’ I roll my eyes. Playing along with what I have always told myself, that Liam is terrible for what he did. But saying it out loud to someone whose husband was caught bonking her mother on her wedding day, suddenly I am questioning the level of the crime.

‘Look, I’m sure you had all sorts of reasons to break up with your husband. But are you sure this isn’t really about you and your mother?’

‘Excuse me?’

‘Well, you said he made you cross because he gave her more ammunition? It sounds like the real problem you have is with her.’

I allow silence to fall while my mind reassesses itself and I question nearly everything I have told myself to believe about my wedding day. Lauren must sense that she has said something I am struggling with.

‘I bet you looked beautiful on your wedding day,’ she says, trying to snap me out of my thoughts. ‘Can I see pictures?’

‘No, I’m not the kind of person to share pictures of myself.’

‘Oh come on, I bet your dress was amazing. I love your style. It’s so dramatic, I could never pull anything off like what you wear.’

I imagine Lauren in one of my dresses. She’s right, it wouldn’t work on most people. I am proud of my unique style.

‘Wait here,’ I tell her. A few moments later, I am back with my laptop. I open the file, ‘MENSTRUAL DIARY’, then show her the screen.

‘So this is us moments after we said “I do” before the speeches. A little moment in time when I felt truly happy.’

‘Ahhh, I can see it on your face. You look glowing.’

I don’t tell her I added the glow in post.

‘And look at this one, your body looks amazing.’ She is pointing at a photo in which I gave myself slightly wider hips.

‘Wow and look at your smile there …’

I snap my computer shut.

‘OK, I can’t do this,’ I say, bluntly.

‘Can’t do what?’ Lauren asks, nervously.