That day… the day everything changed… he followed her into the café, stood in the queue one person behind her and ordered food and a pot of tea. He didn’t bother with a disguise. She’d never recognise him. Why would she, he’d changed a lot from the gangly, immature, round-faced young man she’d met so many years before.

He spotted a free seat in the corner of the café at a table where two elderly women were setting the world to rights over a small coffee. They’d looked at him askance when he’d asked if the seat was free. He could see it was on the tip of their tongues to lie and say they were waiting for a friend or any of the many excuses they could have used, but instead they’d huffed and puffed and moved their bags and coats from it with less than good grace and lots of drama. When he sat, they huddled closer and ignored him.

It suited him. He wasn’t there for the chat, he was there only for Jodie. As usual, she kept her head down, never one for making polite small talk with strangers. He saw an older woman sitting opposite her try, saw her quickly give up when she got no response and leave a moment later. It amused Victor how well he knew her.

He looked at the vacant seat opposite her and wondered about taking the opportunity himself. He’d slide onto it, start a conversation and remind her about their shared past. They might even become friends. He pinned on his best smile, the one that made him look almost handsome, and shuffled to the edge of the chair preparing to stand and take that first colossal step. There was little space to manoeuvre in the crowded café. Awkwardly, with his hands flat on the table, he levered himself upwards, then froze and sat heavily as if his legs had been chopped off at the knee. It startled the two women opposite. They pushed away their long-empty cups, gathered their multiple belongings and left, throwing him wary glances as they did.

‘Weirdo,’ one muttered, the word falling into one of those sudden silences that occur for no reason, causing her friend to giggle nervously and grab her arm to pull her along. Both hurried to the exit and were gone before Victor had even noticed. He’d not heard the insult, nor would he have been bothered if he had. He’d been called a lot worse.