‘I’m not losing my sight.’ Vee had thought there was nothing worse than losing her memories – being unable to recall any details about her father’s death, about Leonie’s, looking back through her photographs desperate for clues to her life and her happiness. But it could be that something worse is waiting for her.

Mr Wilding leans back in his chair, watches her, and waits.

She won’t be pitied. And she won’t be blind, either. It’s just not possible. She refuses.

She blows her nose, then inhales; forces her shoulders down from where they are hunching. ‘What happens now?’

‘Here’s what I suggest you do. Put things in order. Take plenty of rest. Don’t put yourself under undue stress—’

‘Why not?’

‘I’m sorry?’ Mr Wilding is clearly not used to being interrupted. And at whatever he costs a minute, Vee is not surprised. But she does not have time for this. She needs to go out and look at everything, fill what remains of her mind with the colours of the world.

‘What will happen if I don’t rest? If I am under stress?’

‘Well . . .’ Oh, Vee loathes it when people steeple their fingers, prides herself on never having taken that photograph, even though there is a certain class of (usually male) expert who considers it the only way to be portrayed. ‘Well, the disease could be speeded up.’

‘So if I enjoy myself, I might die sooner?’

‘Well . . .’ Mr Wilding says again.

Vee nods, because that’s her answer. ‘What now?’

‘We can give you painkillers, and we’ll ask you to let us know of any changes. We can’t really predict how the disease will progress from here, I’m afraid. We know the possibilities—’

‘And the end,’ Vee says.

He nods. ‘Sadly, yes. We know the end. That’s mandatory for all of us.’

‘Mandatory. Bloody men,’ Vee says, and laughs, and Mr Wilding joins in, though Vee isn’t sure that either of them think what she said is funny.

8 March 2018

8 March 2018

International Women’s Day

Five million Spanish women mark International Women’s Day by taking part in the country’s first ‘feminist strike’, demonstrating against sexual discrimination, domestic violence and the wage gap.

Seven weeks until exhibition opening