‘She’s doing better.’ The woman gesturing with her flowers at Callie. ‘I’m so pleased for you.’

They had never exchanged names. Sharon had steered away from it. She didn’t want a ‘hospital buddy’ – like this was somewhere she should get used to, somewhere she belonged.

‘She is. It’s strange how it’s all changed. No one was promising anything and now they want to talk to me about aftercare, about what happens when we get her home.’ Sharon’s eyes dropped to where she smoothed her daughter’s fringe.

‘That’s so wonderful.’

Sharon stopped herself asking after the girl in the next bed. Despite the woman’s cheery grin, there still seemed to be a lot more sadness than hope, and Sharon went back to feeling awkward. The woman might have sensed it, and busied herself with unwrapping the flowers. There was a collection of vases on a trolley under the window. Flowers must be a regular thing. The woman walked over to it and Sharon waited until she was far enough away to speak to her daughter.

‘Where were we, Callie?’ It was so much easier to sound brighter now. Sharon took back hold of a hand; she was sure that Callie’s hands felt warmer. She seemed more settled too. Her breathing and little movements were now like when Sharon and Danny had watched her sleep when she was a child. Sharon gently rubbed the back of her hand too. Callie’s eyelids flickered like there was movement behind, and her mouth twitched. Then she gagged. Callie’s hands flailed; she was trying to lift them, and all the time the choking sound was getting worse. Sharon turned to shout but a nurse was already moving towards her.

‘It’s OK, my love, just let me …’ The nurse pulled away the tape, then gently guided the tubes out of her throat. Callie’s head was moving from side to side. The nurse continued to coo at her, telling her everything was OK. She seemed to listen, she seemed to understand. Once the obstruction was clear the nurse placed an oxygen mask over her face and stayed close, waiting for it to steam up. She checked the vitals before turning a beaming smile towards where Sharon was frozen still.

‘Callie!’ Sharon’s eyes filled with tears. She moved back close, taking her daughter’s hand in hers again. Then her baby girl murmured something. She still had a voice! ‘Can you hear me, honey?’ Callie’s pupils were wide, the movement of her eyes laboured and slow but she was trying, she was reacting to her mother’s voice. Sharon even thought she detected a faint smile; no, she knew it was a smile. It took Sharon’s breath away. ‘Oh Callie! It’s so good to have you back!’