Holly is nothing like she’s imagined, nothing like Sienna. It shouldn’t surprise her that Greg didn’t have a type.

Sienna is making her way to the front of the church; her movements slow yet deliberate. It feels rehearsed somehow. Abby wonders if she’s feeling nervous about addressing so many people – Greg wasn’t short of friends and acquaintances, and it seems as though the whole hospital has turned up to say their goodbyes. They don’t know what Abby knows. Perhaps they wouldn’t have flocked here otherwise.

Beside Abby, Rob sits silently, staring straight ahead at Sienna. The two of them don’t hold hands as they would have before. Too much has changed in the last few weeks.

Afterwards, there is a wake at a hotel around the corner. ‘We shouldn’t go,’ Abby whispers to Rob. ‘It’s not right when Sienna hates me so much.’

‘We’re her friends,’ he says. ‘We need to be there for her.’ This stubborn streak in Rob is new to her, cementing in her mind just how much has changed in such a short time.

Abby doesn’t mention that she doubts Sienna would care whether they showed their faces. She hadn’t acknowledged them after the church service, even though they’d stood with everyone else to offer their condolences. It was all too much to bear so Abby had walked around the churchyard, trying to focus on the beautiful displays of flowers. Sienna had asked for family flowers only, but people don’t listen; they can’t help themselves at times like these.

Abby’s standing in the hotel lobby, trying to take a moment to breathe, when a hand touches her shoulder.

‘You came,’ Sienna says. ‘I didn’t think you would.’

Abby struggles to speak. It’s been a long time since she’s been this close to her friend. There are so many things she wants to say. Needs to say. Where can she possibly start?

‘I… I’m so sorry, Sienna.’

‘I imagine you are,’ she says. ‘But let’s not do this now. All of this,’ she gestures around, ‘is for Greg, and his memory. I don’t want to fight here.’

Sienna is right. ‘Can we talk later, though? We need to, don’t we? There are things I need to tell you.’

Sienna sighs. ‘I know there are.’

‘Tonight?’ Abby is probably pushing things, but this has waited long enough. She can feel the weight of Sienna’s gaze on her while seconds tick by.

‘Okay. Tonight. But not at my house. I’ll come to you.’

This will work. Rob has already told her that he’s going to stay with his parents for a few days, so he won’t be there. It’s better that way. He’s avoiding her, of course, but she needs to deal with Sienna first before she can turn to the state of her marriage. ‘Yes,’ she says.