‘I need you to leave me alone. Stop reminding me all the time. Stop holding it over me.’

Grace shook her head. ‘No, no, no. It doesn’t work like that. Why should you forget? You killed someone.’ She pointed her index finger at me, jabbing at the air.

‘It wasn’t my fault,’ I said. ‘I wasn’t drunk. I wasn’t tired. I wasn’t speeding… it was an accident. It was ten years ago. I need to move on.’

‘How can you move on? You took a life! She didn’t deserve to die!’

‘And I didn’t deserve to kill her!’

‘Living is your punishment,’ Grace hissed. ‘And I’ll make sure you feel it every. Single. Day.’

‘Get out! Now.’ I marched to the door and held it open, but Grace put her hands on her hips and shook her head.

‘As if you’d throw me out. You need me! You’re nothing on your own. You’re pathetic.’

‘No. You’re wrong. I don’t need you. I have Rohan.’

Grace rolled her eyes and looked exaggeratedly around the attic. ‘Oh yes. Well, where is he now? Where’s he been the last few weeks while you slit your wrists and drink yourself into a coma? Let me see… Oh yes: he’s been in New York.’ The words oozed with spite.

‘And did precious Rohan see these paintings?’ Grace flung her arm at the collection. ‘Did he tell you they were good?’ She laughed; a loud, haughty laugh. ‘Well, let me tell you something: they’re rubbish! Worthless! They’re self-indulgent crap! You’re kidding yourself if you think you have any talent!

‘It’s like the emperor’s new clothes,’ Grace sneered. ‘No one will tell you how crap they are because you’re so “fragile”. No one wants to “upset” you. Everyone’s walking around you on fucking eggshells. You do know that your darling Francesca only gives you exhibitions because of your wretched husband, and all he does is enable you to churn out this garbage. You’re pathetic!’

‘Get out!’ I cried. ‘Get out of my house! Get out of my life! I mean it!’

Grace rolled her eyes insolently. ‘Like last time? Oh yes, this all seems familiar. Haven’t we been here before? And then all it takes is a little email: Dear Abs, I need somewhere to stay… and you invite me back like nothing happened. You can’t get rid of me. You’ll never get rid of me! Never!’

‘I mean it! Get out!’ I screamed.

Grace shook her head slowly as she started to walk towards the door. ‘I’ll go. But you know I’ll be back. I’ll never leave you. Together forever, remember?’ She laughed again.

‘Not this time! This is different!’ I grabbed her shoulders and shoved her out of the door and down the stairs.