‘Yes, but I still have fears. Nightmares.’ She told him of her sister, and of how she learned that Calek had been sent to such a camp with her family. ‘Arnie is taking me to Poland next year, when we hope travelling will be easier. I need to be there. To visit the street where my family lived. I think that will make it all real to me and I can truly grieve for my darling sister.’

Billy stood up then and sat beside her. His arm came round her, and Ella was glad of the comfort he gave to her. Sobs racked her body, as she felt she really was with someone who understood.

‘Thank you, Billy. Thank you for listening. I feel a kindred spirit to you, as I know you understand what it was like to go through something you didn’t think you couldn’t bear, but had to. And . . . and, of course, the loss of your sisters, too.’

‘I do.’ His body shuddered. ‘I want to talk about it, but it’s hard to. And then, as you say, to come home and find that me si – sisters . . . I – I just don’t want to live sometimes, Ella.’

‘I know. And you mustn’t talk until you are ready. But, Billy, you have so many who love you, and they went through hell, too. Imagine your Ma and Rosie, when they heard about Daisy and Florrie, and at the same time were worried sick they’d never see you again, either.’

‘But they seem as though none of it affected them. I come home and they’re all preparing for the wedding of the century. I left four half-sisters and find I only have two now, Rosie and Sibbie, and they just seem to think about getting hitched!’

Seeing it all through Billy’s eyes, Ella understood why he’d been as he had. ‘Oh, Billy. They’ve grieved, and still are grieving. And Rosie’s grief was doubled by the man she loved dying from the effect of his wounds.’

‘Rosie had a man afore Walter?’

‘She did.’ Ella left out the fact that he was German. ‘An airman, who was shot down and she nursed him. She was in a bad way, with losing her sisters and not knowing if she was going to see you again.’

‘Well, she ain’t said owt to me.’

‘You’ve been closed to them all, Billy. My impression of you was of someone suffering deeply, but unable to reach out. I understood, but to them you don’t seem to love them any more.’