Hey, Ruby, are you watching The Bridge? It’s rerunning on BBC. I’m watching it on my own and missing you—it was always great to talk through the plot together. You always saw things I didn’t notice! Hope work’s going well x

Quickly I switched off The Bridge; I had been watching it on my laptop. I realized that Tom didn’t know where I was working, didn’t know I’d lost my job. I’d been careful not to say anything about it to Josh, and Tom hadn’t asked about work since I left.

Another message came through. Tom again.

Oh and have you started to read The Goldfinch? Why did we never read that at the time? I’m reading it now, hope you like it x

I didn’t answer him. I was worried I’d call him and tell him I missed him. I did miss him. I missed the comfort and security of my home. I missed having someone to talk to. Someone to watch television with and go out with occasionally. And all those times he wasn’t nice to me, well, I thought he was stressed. I’d often wondered whether he was suffering from depression. I knew he’d wanted another child. He found living apart from Josh very tough. Whenever Josh called round unexpectedly, Tom would be so happy, as though he was whole again. Now he was living completely alone and I guessed he’d find that really hard. But then the other night he looked great. He seemed happy to talk to me. He was like his old self, the man I’d fallen in love with.

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