The woman placed a hand on his shoulder.

‘I heard what happened to you. Dreadful.’

The sun was shining in through one of the windows, and it was clear that the light was affected by the thickness of the glass.

‘It certainly was,’ agreed the man who was going to rent the house. ‘But much worse for my daughter and her family than for me. It would be fantastic if they could find sanctuary at long last. I mean, they can’t hide overseas forever.’

The woman straightened her shoulders.

‘I can guarantee they’ll be safe here. No one will be able to find them. So unless their situation changes before they come home . . .’

‘It won’t.’

‘. . . then they’re welcome here.’

The man allowed himself a smile.

‘Excellent,’ he said. ‘Excellent.’

The Third Man:

THE EMPTINESS

And then there was the third man. The man who felt no need to confess his sins, or to find a place of sanctuary for someone close to him. The man who had lost so much that he was no longer himself.

He was sitting in his office staring silently at the wall. He didn’t react when his boss walked past his door and came to a sudden halt.

‘I didn’t realise you were here,’ his boss said. ‘I thought you were off duty.’

It was obvious from the tone of his voice that he didn’t like what he was saying. And ‘off duty’ wasn’t the right phrase under the circumstances.

‘I had a few things to sort out.’

His boss lingered.

‘I can see you’re not feeling too good,’ he said. His voice was soft; he really wanted to help.

‘I’m fine, I just don’t want to be at home all the time.’

His boss cleared his throat.

‘You need a break – this isn’t working.’

‘I’m sorry?’

His boss looked troubled. More than troubled.

‘I can’t have you flying off the handle at everybody over every little thing,’ he insisted quietly. ‘Your attitude, your lack of balance – it can’t go on. That’s why we suggest you take some sick leave.’

Silence.

So the words had finally been said. The words he’d been waiting to hear for so long. He wasn’t welcome, they didn’t want him around.

‘Fuck off,’ he said. ‘I don’t want to go on fucking sick leave.’

His boss took a step backwards, but only one.

‘I want you out of here today,’ he said. ‘I’ve already given you more chances than you deserve.’ He walked away, still somehow hesitant.