It was the next day, and Hannah and I were packing our bags, readying ourselves to leave. We’d had a final, centring chant around the kitchen table and already said our goodbyes to Joanna and Tim. I should’ve booked my cab ages ago, but it was as if my feet were submerged in glue.

‘Don’t be crazy,’ I said. ‘It’ll be romantic, that whole long drive home. Just the two of you. Singing Christmas songs, snogging at the lights.’

Hannah giggled, flushing.

‘You’re so funny, Rachel. I’m really going to miss you.’ Her expression turned earnest. ‘Not that I’ll have to. We’re all a family now. We’ll see each other all the time, won’t we?’

‘Of course,’ I said. The word ‘family’ made me shiver. No wonder my feet were stuck to the ground.

‘And we’re all in it together,’ added Hannah. ‘So you don’t really have a choice!’

I didn’t want to be alone, it was true, and soon I was squashed in the back of Marco’s sporty little Alfa Romeo, our piled-up luggage holding me fast.

‘Are you sure you’re okay in the back?’ said Hannah, swivelling her face around to look at me.

‘I’m fine, it’s great,’ I said, and I wasn’t lying. There was something so comforting, so childlike, about being stowed away like this. It was almost as if Marco and Hannah were my new parents.

I’d clung to Amber when I’d said goodbye, suddenly overwhelmed with guilt about my secret night with Arthur. I felt like I’d abused her trust, damaged the sanctity of what she’d created. It didn’t make sense, particularly considering how open Marco and Hannah were being, but then, nothing made sense. ‘Darling girl,’ she’d said, wrapping me tightly in her arms. ‘You did so well. I know you’re hurting, but I promise we’ll keep unlocking you from her now.’ Her voice dropped low. ‘You’re free,’ she whispered, intimate. ‘If only you can start believing it.’

‘Okay bellas,’ said Marco, starting the engine with an extravagant flick of the key. ‘We’re heading back to the future.’

Could I? Could I start believing it? Hannah started cheering, still high on life, and I added my own more muted round of applause. Then I tucked my knees up on the seat beneath me and looked out of the window, distracting myself with the bleak winter beauty of the countryside. It wasn’t long before the beeping began, my phone throbbing with messages as soon as signal crept up on us.