‘How much?’

‘Top end of your budget, but with all your bills included.’

‘Nooooo,’ I said, bursting out into a Cheshire cat smile.

‘Yes,’ Adzo insisted. ‘I can totally see you here. It’s small but it’s cute, the neighbours are great, it’s not too far from where you are now but far enough that you won’t have to ever walk back down that road with the memories if you don’t want to.’

I flung myself at her, screeching thanks and ‘OMG!’s at her.

‘So you like it?’ she said, pulling away from me.

I nodded. ‘I really want to live here,’ I said, reaching out to touch the wall. ‘This feels like home. In my very soul, I know I’d be happy here. Can I bring Carol?’

She put an arm around my shoulder. ‘You can,’ she said. ‘I checked. And for what it’s worth,’ she added, ‘the only thing this cost me was a happy hour. Turns out Moustache Man is still quite lovely.’

‘So we’re even? I get a flat and you get a boyfriend?’

‘Girl, please. Don’t hit me with your heteronormative relationship labels. I’m moving to America, remember? But also, yes. We’re even.’

The flat forced me to make up my mind for definite: I wanted to stay in London, and I wanted to live in that flat. Antwerp wouldn’t have been right for me – I just couldn’t leave Freddie. Accepting that was a relief. There was being adventurous, but there was also knowing what mattered more.

I snapped several images of the rooms, already planning how I’d furnish it. Because it was so light and airy, and because all the furniture from the house would be too big anyway, I decided on the spot to go minimalist and essential. What better time in my life to pare down all the rubbish I’d accumulated and only hold on to things that sparked joy?

I sent a photo to the Core Four and pulled up Patrick’s name to show him what Adzo had found for me too, but decided it would probably be a better conversation in person. Adzo was on the phone with her Moustache Man – my new landlord – locking down details of signing a private contract so we didn’t have to deal with an agent, hardballing him into making it happen sooner rather than later. I sent a text to Patrick and asked if we could meet.

Sure, he said, writing back straightaway. Tuesday? The pizza place? 7?

Tuesday? I texted back. That was days away.

I’m in Manchester. I came to hang out with my bro for a few days x