The whole walk had taken less than ten minutes, maybe even less than five, but to Nikki it had felt interminable. With every step, it felt as though her chest constricted and heart beat faster. Her hands were slick with sweat even though it was cool inside the building, and her breathing was shallow. She wondered whether she would be able to get through this.

For Riley, she repeated in her head with every step, like a mantra. For Riley. She had to do this.

Suddenly, they were in a larger room and the queue dispersed, the other visitors breaking away from the line and rushing towards four vending machines lining the far wall.

‘No running,’ shouted a guard, who stood behind a raised reception desk in the middle of the room.

Nikki waited patiently, watched as the other visitors pressed coins into slots then scooped up cans, chocolates and chips. When her turn came, she fed the machine her four coins, pressed a button and pulled out a packet of chicken-flavoured chips.

Clutching the bag, Nikki ignored the guards behind the desk and walked into the ‘VISITS ROOM’, as the sign said, a surprisingly large and open space with metal stools and tables sprouting from its polished concrete floor.

She made her way to one of the last free tables and tried to pull her stool closer to the table as she sat down, but it was fixed to the floor. She scanned the room and tried to act calm, though she felt anything but. She was terrified.

And then he walked in.

JAX did not know why he was in the visiting room or who he was about to meet. He had never had a visitor, nor had he ever wanted any. He had been firm about that.

But then he saw her.

‘Nikki,’ he whispered to himself. The love of his life was sitting in the corner, alone on a stool, looking pale. ‘Nikki.’ His heart almost broke through his chest at the sight of her, the prettiest thing he had ever seen, here in the ugliest place he had ever been.

He resisted the urged to sprint across the room, pick her up and hug her. Nikki had to know that it was over. He thought about turning around and walking out. It would kill him to do so, tear whatever was left of his heart in two, but it would be for the best. She had to forget about him. She had to hate him.

But he couldn’t do it. Couldn’t turn his back on that face. Those eyes.

His selfishness burned his cheeks as he walked across the room, closing the distance between them. Nikki stood up as Jax neared, opened her arms.

‘Don’t,’ Jax said. ‘I can’t. You shouldn’t be here.’ He couldn’t meet her eyes.

‘What?’ Nikki said, her mouth hanging open in shock at Jax’s cold greeting as she sat back down heavily.