‘You two have been talking a lot just recently,’ Danny said, and his wife reacted with a warning look.

‘We’re both worried about you.’

‘Don’t waste your energy on worrying about me. Save it all for her.’

Sharon took hold of Callie’s other hand. She had stayed the opposite side of the bed. He watched as she gently straightened out Callie’s fingers like she was trying to massage some life into them.

‘Do you ever wonder if she dreams in there? You see it in the movies, don’t you … people in comas dreaming. I can’t stop thinking about it, if Callie can dream she can have bad dreams too … It sounds ridiculous doesn’t it?’

‘This whole thing’s a bad dream.’ Danny gently pushed Callie’s fringe where it had fallen over her eyes. She was such a pretty girl, gentle features but with a real spark to those eyes. Just like her mother.

‘I can’t bear it, Danny, the thought that she’s having bad dreams too. I like to think of her as just sleeping, resting so she comes back stronger. I hate to think she’s struggling in there.’

‘I know.’

Sharon’s lips twitched like she might be breaking down and Danny had to fight the urge to walk round to her and wrap her in a hug. She was quick to change the subject.

‘How’s your digs?’ she said.

‘Like a football tour stopover in Chernobyl. Only without the lads.’ He forced a laugh. Sharon only managed a smile.

‘Are you staying on tour? Is that your plan?’ she said.

‘Plan!’ Danny scoffed and regretted it instantly. ‘I’m not sure what I’m doing from here, not yet.’

‘Marty was talking about some job opportunity with Dover. Sounds like you’re moving further on with the management side? That sounds good.’

‘I’ve got options, yeah. I’ll need to get my head down.’

‘Are you going to be able to do that?’

‘What do you mean?’ Danny snapped. Again, he regretted it. Sharon stayed calm, of course she did, it was always him that would escalate first.

‘You’ve got a lot going on right now,’ she said. ‘We both have. I’ve been struggling to concentrate on anything, I can tell you that.’

‘I’ll be fine,’ Danny said.

‘I’ve been thinking that maybe we can get a loan together, enough to get you the deposit for a flat, you know, somewhere a bit more permanent. I’ve had a look, there’s a few places about that you might like, I can send you the links through …’ She faded out to study him like she was waiting for his reaction.