Amanda is standing next to the long wooden workbench repotting house plants. She’s wearing jeans, a jumper, and a pair of gardening gloves. Her dark hair is pulled back in a ponytail.

‘This is a nice surprise, Mary,’ she says. ‘What brings you here today?’

Before the words can even register, Mary’s attention is drawn to the carrycot on the floor behind Amanda. She can see baby Megan inside lying on her back, eyes closed, mouth open. Not for the first time it occurs to Mary that she looks so much like Charlotte. They have the same fair hair and turned-up nose. The same chubby cheeks and full lips.

‘Are you all right?’ Amanda asks, concern in her voice. ‘Is something the matter?’

That’s when Mary snaps and her mind tells her that it’s not Megan in the carrycot. It’s Charlotte. And she now has another chance to save her daughter.

She rushes forward, barging Amanda out of the way. Her friend’s body slams against the shelf and she falls to the floor after losing her balance.

Mary doesn’t care, though. All she cares about now is keeping her daughter alive.

She drops to her knees next to the carrycot and reaches in to gently poke the baby.

‘Wake up, Charlotte,’ she yells. ‘It’s Mummy. Wake up. Please.’

The child doesn’t stir, so she starts to poke a little harder.

‘Wake up my darling. Don’t die on me again. Please.’

When the baby’s eyes flicker open, relief surges through Mary. But at the same time, she’s suddenly wrenched backwards by her hair.

She screams with the pain as she’s pulled across the floor by Amanda.

‘Are you insane, woman?’ Amanda screams. ‘What the hell do you think you’re doing? That’s Megan. Not Charlotte.’

Mary’s head drops to the floor as Amanda lets go of her hair.

Amanda then moves towards the cot, clearly intending to pick up the crying baby. But before she reaches it, Mary is on her feet and seizing her ponytail.

‘How do you like it, you fucking bitch?’ Mary yells as she pulls on it.

Amanda twists her body to face Mary, her eyes ablaze.

‘Let me go, you mad woman.’

‘I’m not mad,’ Mary responds, her voice suddenly lower and more controlled. ‘I know my own baby and I’ll do anything to save her. And no way will I let you take her from me.’

Amanda reacts by reaching out and grabbing Mary by the throat. She forces her back against the bench and for several seconds the two women are locked in a violent struggle.

Mary just doesn’t understand why this person she regarded as a friend would try to steal her baby. It’s unbelievable. Monstrous.