‘Pardon my forwardness, but I think it’s really important that you stop closing your mind off from what’s happened to you. It’s the only way you’ll be able to properly move forwards.’

‘You mean you think I’m in denial?’

‘That would have been a more succinct way of putting it, yes.’

He was probably right, but Dani didn’t want to agree and give him the satisfaction of knowing that.

‘What I’d like to see the next time we meet is that you’ve taken steps to confront some of your demons, so to speak. The worst thing for someone in your position to do is to internalise their problems.’

‘Are you still talking about Jason?’ Dani said, feeling frustrated that he was a subject that needed discussing at all.

‘In part, yes. If you were to ask me my personal opinion, I’d say that pushing away someone like Jason who cares about you is probably not helping you right now. Having a support network is very important and I’m not sure why you’re so determined to get through this alone.’

‘Just as well I didn’t ask for your personal opinion then,’ Dani said, and she saw Scholz squirm slightly at that. He looked at her questioningly, as though waiting for her to apologise for her abruptness.

‘Sorry,’ she said, not really feeling it. ‘You can blame my irritability on my damaged frontal lobes. Or the meds. Take your pick.’

‘Don’t worry, Dani. I know you’re still struggling with the changes in your personality.’

Did he?

‘Actually I do get where you’re coming from,’ Dani said.

Scholz raised an eyebrow at Dani’s perhaps unexpected acquiescence.

‘Which is why I’ve arranged to go and see Ben.’

Scholz looked shocked at that.

‘You said I need to confront my past,’ Dani said, when Scholz failed to say a word.

‘I did. I’m actually pleasantly surprised by this, Dani.’

‘Believe me, there’s nothing pleasant about the thought of going to see my brother.’

‘No, I’m sure there’s not. But I really do think that it will help you in the long run. May I ask what led you to this decision?’

Dani let out a long sigh. She thought about Harry and Chloe. Was a part of her doing this for them, or would saying that just be a smokescreen? Until yesterday, Dani hadn’t known how on earth her visiting her murderous brother in prison was ever going to help her relate to the real world with more purpose again. What she’d thought she needed was to erase him from her life one hundred percent. Remove every single memory and every single facet of his existence from her mind. But really, didn’t she need some sort of closure for herself?

‘I saw my niece and nephew yesterday.’