I jumped off my bed, knocking the scrapbook to the floor. There was a loud crash from his room. I flung open my door and ran across the corridor. He was collapsed, his table upended, jigsaw pieces scattered across his carpet like fallen autumn leaves. He whimpered like a wounded animal.

‘Mum!’ I cried, praying she was back. ‘Mum!’

I dropped to my knees beside him. His face was contorted in pain. Eyes wide with fear. He breathed as if someone had their hand over his mouth. Blood spattered his face and pyjamas and coloured his teeth so he looked like a wolf who’d eaten a lamb. His skin was a deep shade of purple and his forehead glistened with sweat.

‘I… can’t…’ It was all he managed.

‘Mum! Jago!’ I screamed so loud it raked my throat.

Granfer grabbed at my arm with one hand and banged his chest weakly with the other, his fingers twisted into rigid claws.

‘It’s okay,’ I said, knowing it was anything but. ‘It’s okay.’

I had to get a grip. I took a few deep breaths and gritted my teeth, then eased Granfer backwards. I reached for a pillow from his bed and slid it beneath his head. Then I stood and grabbed his oxygen tank, which I dragged over to him. I unravelled the tubing and fixed the mask over his nose and mouth. As he breathed, the mask misted with blood as if somebody had spray-painted it scarlet.

He jabbed the air in front of his face. He wanted to talk. I lifted the mask onto his forehead and as I did his mouth erupted with blood and spittle and minuscule particles of floating silica. He made a gurgling noise like he’d been stabbed through the heart and I turned my head away from him as fresh tears rolled down my face.

‘Pain… chest. My…’

I swiped fresh tears away. Tears were no good to anybody. ‘Don’t talk, Granfer. Just breathe.’ I stroked his hand. ‘There’s only you and me here. I’ve got to go to the callbox to ring for an ambulance. I’ll be back before you know it. You’re not going to die. You’re not.’ Yet even as I said the words I feared I was going to lose him.

His hand clamped around mine. His nails dug into my skin as he shook his head.

‘I’ll only be a few minutes.’ I uncurled his fingers from my hand, then ran from the room, taking the stairs two at a time. I sprinted to the corner, opened the callbox and snatched at the phone. I was barely able to turn the dial for shaking.

‘Nine, nine, nine. What’s your emergency please?’

‘Ambulance…’ I said. ‘I need… an ambulance.’