A short but awkward silence followed, and then Jason leaned forwards. Dani didn’t react or move at all as he planted a kiss onto her lips. He moved back to look into her eyes. Still she didn’t break eye contact. He came back for another attempt. He closed his eyes. She closed hers. Their lips touched.

No. This wasn’t what she wanted. Not now. Not tonight. Not like this.

‘Jason, stop,’ Dani said, moving her lips away from his, but a moment later he was kissing her neck gently.

‘Jason, for fuck’s sake, I said stop!’ Dani yelled.

She hauled her knee up and crashed it into Jason’s groin, then shoved him away as hard as she could. He shouted out in pain and stumbled back, tripping over his own legs and landing on the floor with a thud.

‘What the hell is wrong with you?’ he shouted.

‘Me? What the hell is wrong with you? The one time I just wanted you to be here for me, Jason. And you try to kiss me!’

‘You kneed me in the balls!’

Dani held a hand to her head, exasperated. ‘Jason please… I can’t do this.’

He clambered to his feet, his hands cradling his groin. His face was lined with anger. He grabbed his coat.

‘I know you’re not the same person you used to be,’ he said, the anger in his voice clear, ‘and maybe you’ll never be her again, but it’s about time you opened your eyes, accepted it and just got on with your life.’

‘That’s exactly what I’m trying to do.’

‘Sometimes I have to wonder, though, is it really the head injury that’s made you into… this?’

Dani said nothing, just shook her head. Jason huffed, opened the door and stormed out.

Slamming the door shut, Dani slid down the wall to the floor. Only then did the emotion of the day finally catch up with her. Tears cascaded down her face. She wondered if they’d ever stop.

Chapter Thirty-Nine

Day 408

I’ve been home for six months now. It feels as though my life is finally on the up again, ‘normality’ is slowly returning. The darkest days are behind me, though I know I still have a long way to go to full recovery. I have an assessment booked to regain my driving license in two weeks! I’m so excited, like I was when I first took my test when I was seventeen. I have my phone and laptop back. I’m even trusted to boil a kettle of water…

Jason remains in the spare room, though I honestly don’t think he needs to be in my apartment anymore. I’ve already got my sights set on returning to work, maybe in the new year, just five months away. Above all, I feel confident that my old self is still there, and finally winning out.