The door buzzes and I push on it, feeling it click and give. I walk into a narrow entrance hall that smells fresh and clean. There’s a slim console table to my right with an arrangement of Christmassy flowers. I touch one of the leaves. I think they’re fake, but they’re realistic enough for me to be unsure. Ahead of me lies a steep flight of beige-carpeted stairs. A door opens at the top. A tallish man with a beard steps onto the landing, gives me a wave and beckons me up.

Nervousness overwhelms me, and I wonder again why I agreed to do this. But Matt was adamant. He said he was making me go because he loved me and wanted to help me. But it feels like I’ve been railroaded into this.

‘Hi, I’m Robin.’ The bearded man smiles and holds out his hand. I reach the top of the stairs and shake it. His grip is cool and firm. ‘You don’t need to look so terrified. Honestly, all we’re going to do is chat for a short while. That’s it.’

I nod, still not feeling in any way at ease.

‘Come through.’ Robin shows me into a light, airy room with stripped wooden floors, rugs, lamps and Scandi furniture. There’s no desk or therapist’s couch like I imagined there would be. Instead, there are two sofas opposite one another, separated by a low square ottoman stool. On the stool is a tray with a jug of water and two glasses. Next to the tray is a box of tissues – so he’s expecting tears.

Robin sits on the furthest couch and picks up a notebook and pen. He gestures to me to take a seat on the other. I place my handbag next to me.

‘Take your coat off if you like. The heating’s on.’

I realise it is quite warm, so I do as he suggests and slip off my parka, draping it over the back of the sofa.

‘So, how’s Matt doing?’

‘He’s fine. Working hard at the moment.’

‘Nice guy. I always got on with him at school. It’s a shame we lost touch.’ Robin’s hair is dark, and his eyes are blue. He’s kind of handsome in a geeky way – not my type though. That’s a good thing. It would be hard to talk freely to a stranger I found attractive. I’m not even sure why I’m having these thoughts. Maybe because it’s distracting me from the other stuff. ‘Anyway,’ he continues, leaning back into the sofa, ‘why don’t you start by telling me why you’re here?’

‘I’m not sure how much Matt told you…’

Robin shrugs. ‘He gave me a rough outline, but why don’t we just pretend he said nothing. I’d prefer to hear about it in your own words.’