I turn back to the mirror and focus on getting myself calm and into balance. Thank goodness for Sasha turning up like that. She’s probably just saved me from a full-on meltdown. Sash and Lex. Propping each other up since ninety-three.

Several minutes later, I’m on stage behind a giant black curtain doing the final sound checks with the band. Sammy helps me set the mic up just as I need it.

‘All set, Alex? I know you’re nervous. Best advice I can give is don’t make eye contact with any of the crowd. Not until you’re in your stride.’

‘OK, thanks, that’s helpful.’ I take a deep shaky breath.

‘You’ve got this.’ He grabs my shoulder and squeezes it affectionately. ‘It’s not that different to singing karaoke.’

As he makes his way back across to his position and slings his guitar strap over his shoulder, I suddenly have an idea.

‘Sammy, what do you think of redheads?’

‘Men or women?’

‘Women, obviously. You mentioned the other night you’d like one in your life.’

‘I don’t really have a type if that’s what you’re asking. There are some really hot redheads out there. Nicole Kidman and Isla Fisher for a start.’

I flash him a little grin. ‘In that case, there’s someone I need to introduce you to later.’

Minutes later, the curtain is drawn back, the stage lights flash and we burst to life with our opening track, one of the band’s own songs, ‘Space Poets’. It’s lively, rocky, bursting with energy. The perfect gig opener; and the crowd instantly love it. This is an enormous relief to me as I stand centre stage, belting out the lyrics, fuelled by their support. My nerves are almost immediately extinguished by the sight of so many elated faces bobbing up and down in the darkness, and the face of one person in particular: Matt. He’s right at the front, dancing like a maniac, whooping and cheering me on.

The adrenaline courses through me and I lose myself in the song. It feels like no more than a moment before the band are playing the outro and Sammy’s addressing the crowd before launching us into another of the band’s own pieces. We play one track after the next; we mix in some well-known covers, but I’m surprised to see the crowd are responding more enthusiastically to the band’s own tracks. Some are even singing along.

As I bounce lightly on my toes, interacting playfully with my fellow band members and the crowd, I feel a surge of happiness like I’ve never felt before. It’s like a drug, taking me through such a high. I feel invincible. Unstoppable. I’m not the woman with MS, I can conquer the world.

I don’t want it to end but it does, to rapturous applause and wolf-whistling. It’s a moment like no other, taking that bow and feeling the stamping appreciation reverberate through the venue. Basking in the experience, just as Sasha suggested, the pieces start to fall into place and my brain finally offers me the answer I’ve been seeking.