Esther had been deliberately matter-of-fact about everything, wanting Viv to understand that it wasn’t sympathy she was after, but still couldn’t believe how cursory – how skin-deep and pointless – their conversation already felt. As if Viv was going through the motions. She scanned her friend’s face, dimly searching for some evidence of the woman who, not that long ago, had been eager and ready to discuss everything under the sun, the various travails in their respective lives included. They were sitting in the cinema foyer, with ten minutes until the start of their film. Over three weeks of virtual silence, and Viv had even dodged this chance for a proper talk over a meal, citing drop-offs and pick-ups of the two younger children as the reason. The holiday in August, which had ended so badly, felt a world away, as Viv’s pale face testified, the dusty freckles back to near invisibility and with her hair already a little darker and longer, not curving quite so neatly round her chin. Her eyes were as sharp as ever, but not quite meeting hers, Esther was increasingly certain, as well as sporting the cloudy violet under-patches that were always a sure sign Viv was short on sleep. ‘There is no “poor thing” about any of it, Vivvie,’ she said quietly, ‘or at least, I didn’t intend there to be.’

‘No, I wasn’t trying to…’ She smiled briskly, giving a business-like slap to her thighs. ‘Anyway, hadn’t we better think about going in? I might powder my nose first.’

‘Powder your nose?’ Esther repeated, unable to contain herself. Viv never used euphemisms. Viv hated euphemisms. And her black trouser suit, a stalwart Esther knew well, was hanging off her. ‘Viv, are you sure you are all right?’

‘Of course, I am all right, I just need a pee before the film. What about you?’

‘No, you go ahead, I’m fine, thanks.’ Esther watched her walk away, despair deepening at the continuing glacial manner, and at her own naivety in imagining that Viv agreeing to this longed-for girls’ night out would see a grand resolution of everything.

Oh God, she really was thinner, Esther saw, as the door to the Ladies swung open at last and Viv strode out, orange coat over one arm, her black trouser suit flapping loosely round her frame. She patted the sofa space next to her, but Viv merely pointed in the direction of the sign for their screen and set off up the stairs.

‘You are ill or still angry,’ Esther declared, desperation and hurt getting the better of her as they settled into their seats, in the middle of an auditorium that was still virtually empty because not even the trailers had started.

‘I assure you I am neither,’ Viv replied smoothly, ‘and I am very much looking forward to the film. So just relax, Esther, can’t you?’