‘You fainted, love.’ Toby’s mum Celia kneels by my side, one hand on my forehead, the other on my wrist. She looks different somehow. Maybe it’s her hair – she’s had it cut or styled or something. It looks straighter than usual, and browner. She must have had the grey coloured. ‘Looks like you came down a real cropper.’

I now see that as well as Celia, Toby’s dad Malcolm and his elder brother Nick are also here in the room, staring down at me, deep worry etched across their brows. I notice they’re both wearing grey suits, which seems strange. And Toby’s suit seems to have wet patches down the lapels.

‘You feel a little clammy, but your pulse is steady.’ Celia is a nurse, so if she says I’m okay, I guess I must be okay.

‘I can’t remember what happened.’

Celia looks up at her eldest son. ‘Nick, can you get Zoe a glass of water?’

‘Uh, sure.’

I notice Toby’s right leg is quivering, and his hands are trembling. He’s not the sort to get anxious, so his concern for me makes me love him even more. ‘Toby, you’re shaking!’

‘I was so worried.’ He swallows and leans in to kiss my forehead. ‘If anything happened to you I don’t know what I’d do.’

‘I’m fine, silly. Just a bit dizzy, that’s all. Tell him I’m okay, Celia.’

Toby glances at his mother and she gives him a comforting smile. ‘Relax, Toby. Zoe’s going to be just fine.’ Celia sits back on her haunches. ‘Well, this is an unusual wedding day.’ She raises an eyebrow and squeezes my hand.

‘Wedding day?’ Only now do I notice I’m wearing my ivory lace dress. That’s why everyone looks so smart. ‘Oh no! It’s today! Did I wreck it? Is it too late?’ This time I manage to sit up despite my woozy head. ‘I can’t believe I—’

‘It’s okay,’ Toby interrupts. ‘We’ve still got time. The ceremony isn’t due to start for another forty minutes.’

‘What happened? You said I fainted, but I don’t remember that at all. It’s all so hazy… I was getting ready and then…’

‘Like Mum said, you hit the deck.’ Toby shakes his head.

I have a vague memory of rushing out of the room with someone. But I can’t quite put my finger on it.

‘Are you sure you can’t remember anything about it?’ Toby glances at his mum before turning back to me. ‘That’s quite worrying, Zo.’

I frown and try to recall what happened, but my brain hurts. ‘Last thing I remember, I was getting ready. Celia, you were here with Lou and Becky, helping me get into my dress. That’s it. That’s the very last thing I remember.’

Nick returns and hands me a glass of water.