She’d never told anyone about what happened, preferring to push the memories right down, deep inside, and pretend that it didn’t happen to her. But of course the truth found its way out through her OCD behaviours and rituals of control.

When she saw her rescuer, everything she felt that night—fear, panic, loss of control—surged through her anxiety-ridden body. She tried to control her breathing as much as she could, but seeing her rescuer suddenly there in front of her knocked the wind right out of her.

Flora jumped when she felt a touch on her shoulder. It was Sandra.

“Flo, are you okay? Who was that? Did she upset you?”

Sandra was always so protective of her. Sandra had worked for Sweet Surprise since the last few years before Flora’s grandad died. Flora didn’t have friends in the way other people did, but Sandra was as close a friend as she could get.

Sandra understood her anxieties to a degree, the way Flora needed help in the shop dealing with customers, and that meant the world to her, but she’d never shown anyone, not even Sandra, who she truly was.

“No, no. I—she tried to help me one day when I was struggling with a panic attack, and it just all came back to me.”

It wasn’t a lie. Flora did have a panic attack—it was just a bigger meltdown than she’d ever had in her life.

“That’s okay then. Her name’s Mack. She’s opened the barbershop next door,” Sandra said.

Flora’s stomach dropped. She rubbed the tip of her nose and tapped her collarbone as discreetly as possible, trying to soothe her panic.

“Are you sure you’re okay? She seemed nice enough.”

Flora’s mouth went dry, and she pulled her oversized cardigan tightly around her in a hug. She heard the ding of the shop door.

“I’m fine. Could you get that customer for me?”

“I will do. Take your time, Flo.”

When Sandra walked away, Flora closed her eyes. I’m going to have to see her every day. I’m going to remember every day.

* * *

Mack locked up, and then Liam pulled down the shutters on Mack the Knife, while she held on to Dexter.

“Everything’s looking spot on, Mack,” Liam said.

“Aye, we’re all set. I can’t wait to get started.”

“You headed home now?”

“No, Nikki’s back from France. She asked me to meet her for a drink at The Deep.”

Liam stroked Dexter and said, “I’ll see you both in the morning then. Night, mate.”

“Have a good yin.”

Mack looked both ways and crossed the street towards the club. It was only three in the afternoon, so the club would be gearing up for the evening. She was glad about that. Mack used to love her visits to the Sharkey bars and clubs.