‘Oi, no kissing on the ward,’ the nurse who’s been looking after me calls as she makes her way past. We pull apart suddenly and she starts to laugh. ‘I’m only kidding. What do you think this is – prison? Nice to see you smiling, Alex.’

Matt and I chuckle in embarrassment.

‘Feels a bit like being in prison. Though it just got a bit more bearable.’ I beam adoringly at Matt, who reflects the same expression right back at me.

‘So how long til you’re better? When can you get out of here?’ Matt asks.

I bite my lip, unsure how to answer that.

‘Spit it out, Alex.’

‘It’ll probably take about two weeks to get back on my feet properly. The doctor said I can go home when I’m able to look after myself or when I have someone to support me.’

He looks thoughtful for a second. ‘Right, well that’s sorted then. I’m breaking you out of here.’

‘I have to stay at least another couple of nights though. To see an occupational therapy specialist tomorrow and for them to monitor me.’

‘Fair enough. But as soon as they say you’re safe to leave, I’m taking you home.’

‘To my home or yours?’ I grin at him.

‘Where would you like to be?’

‘Probably mine. All my stuff is there.’

‘Fine by me. I travel light.’

As he says this, another thought pops into my mind and my body chills. ‘Matt, you do realise I’ll probably never be able to climb your beloved hills with you? I can’t give you your dream future. That worries me because it’s so important to you.’

He looks at me as if I’ve lost the plot completely. ‘You do know I’m not Bear Grylls, right?’

‘Ha ha. Don’t take the piss.’

‘Alex, I’ve got lots of people I can climb hills with. That picture of the future was never a deal-breaker. There are other things we can enjoy together. And some of those I definitely can’t do with those other people – not without ending up with a black eye or in jail.’ He gives me a cheeky wink and I try to bat his forearm playfully, but instead end up panting like a tired dog.

‘Thank goodness for Emmanuel. If she hadn’t stopped by my apartment after work…’ I tail off, unwilling to entertain this alternative ending.

‘That reminds me, I was to give you this.’ Matt points to a plastic bag containing my iPad, clothes and toiletries.

‘Thanks. And thanks for… being you.’

‘I do my best. So, a couple of days then. And once you’re properly better, you can go back to band rehearsals. I hadn’t yet passed on your message to Sammy.’ He looks pleased to be able to tell me this.

‘Oh, Matt, no. I’m going to have to pull out of the band. And the leadership programme at work. I need to start being realistic about what I can cope with. There’s being determined, and there’s self-destructive stubbornness. If I push myself too hard, I leave myself vulnerable to more infections like this.’