I stop muttering to myself, one paint brush clamped between my teeth as I dab frantically at the walls with another. I have painted in all the seaweed fronds in varying shades of green, the mermaid is brought to life with Ariel’s trademark red hair and clam shell bra. I am fully immersed under the sea.

‘Allie. Stop.’ Rav moves forward, a crying Mina on his hip as he takes the paintbrush from between my teeth. ‘Look at the state of you, you’re covered in paint. How long have you been up here, doing … this?’

I glance towards the window. Earlier, the sun had been breaking through the clouds, now it is barely above the horizon. The room is still cold, but it is a natural cold and my skin prickles with sweat and heat, my cheeks burning. My reflection in the glass is unkempt, my hair sticking to my sweaty forehead, paint daubed on my cheeks and splattered across my T-shirt. ‘I … not long.’ I become aware of a thin wailing, a ragged and exhausted cry. Rav glares at me for a moment before hurrying from the room, Mina still snuffling in his arms. I lay down the paintbrush, feeling disorientated and off kilter. Rav’s voice filters through from our bedroom, where he is murmuring to the baby, who in turn responds with more angry cries. Quietly, I walk through to where Rav is leaning over the bed, changing the baby, as Mina sits next to them, her eyes red and her breathing hitching in her chest.

‘Shall I do it?’

‘No.’ Rav’s tone is short, his face white with fury, and I blink, sure that I am about to cry. ‘I’ve nearly finished.’ He stuffs the baby’s legs into the Babygro and snaps the poppers closed. The baby continues to wail, and the sound is like nails on a chalkboard in my ear. ‘Fucking hell, Allie. What were you thinking? I found Mina sobbing her heart out outside her bedroom door because she couldn’t get in and the baby in his cot screaming his head off.’

‘I’m sorry, Rav.’ I reach out to Mina but she pulls away, leaning against Rav. ‘I lost track … I forgot I moved the furniture in front of the door. I didn’t think—’

Rav cuts across me. ‘When was the baby last fed?’