Before walking inside, I take some slow, deep breaths to calm myself. I try to focus on nothing but my breath billowing out in clouds before me. I’m just going back to work. The office is full of the same great people I worked with before I went off.

When I eventually reach my desk, I’m surprised to find that none of my team are there. I hang my coat over the back of my chair and dump my bag on the floor, about to unpack my stuff, when I notice a yellow Post-it on my computer monitor. Scrawled on it in black ink is the message ‘Alex, come straight to the boardroom when you get in’. I frown. Emmanuel didn’t mention an early meeting. If I’d known, I’d have come in earlier. I hate turning up late.

Slinging my bag back over my shoulder, I head back down the corridor. However, as I reach the boardroom door, I realise there’s no noise coming from inside. Usually when it’s occupied, you can hear the murmur of voices. I give a quick knock and open the door, and as I do, there’s an eruption from inside.

‘WELCOME BACK.’

I almost drop dead from fright. Suddenly there’s music and laughter and colour. And a big bright banner sporting the words ‘Welcome Home’ hanging across the whiteboard at an odd angle. My whole team is there – other than Danielle, I clock – and so are a handful of colleagues from other teams with whom I’ve developed strong working relationships. To say I’m overwhelmed is an understatement. I stand there open-mouthed as Emmanuel approaches and gives me a hug.

‘Welcome back, Alex.’

‘Did you arrange this?’ I ask her.

‘This is the work of the team. I had nothing to do with it. They asked if I thought it would be all right and I said I expected you’d be very touched.’

‘I’m definitely touched. No, that’s not enough. It makes my previous return to work seem like I had a highly contagious disease and was released from quarantine too early.’

‘That’s really not how it should be.’ Emmanuel tuts. ‘Well, hopefully this lot have made up for that.’

‘They sure have.’

I greet my teammates individually, as they approach me one by one.

‘Great to have you back, Alex.’ Dhruv gives me a fist-bump, followed by a sequence of complicated ‘handshake’ movements I can’t follow.

‘You know I have coordination issues, right?’ I decide it’s best to just get things out in the open.

‘Was a test.’ He gives me a sneaky wink. ‘Still not convinced you’re not a spy. Reckon you’ve been off on some kind of secret mission.’

‘Right, sure… by the way, Ethan Hunt said to say “hi”.’

He looks baffled for a moment, then laughs loudly, extending his thumb and pointing his index finger at me in a you-just-about-had-me-there gesture.

‘Nothing wrong with your wits then. Seriously, Alex, mate. So good to see you. Want you to know I’ve got your back anytime.’