Floorboards creaked as if they were firecrackers in the now-quiet room, as Mags crept back towards her bed. Aggie lay on her back. The sound of her breathing was that of someone asleep. Afraid to wake her, Mags fetched the blanket from Aggie’s bed and covered her with it, then ran to the bathroom and washed herself till she felt herself tingle all over. Creeping back into her own bed, she daren’t lie down, but decided to stay awake so that if Aggie woke, she could escape and run, before Aggie could get up.

The morning brought the sun streaming through the high windows and across Mags’s bed, waking her from a sleep she didn’t know she’d fallen into. Remembrance shot open her eyes. Looking down on the floor, she saw that Aggie hadn’t moved. Her breathing had the pace of someone in a deep sleep.

Horror and repulsion shuddered through Mags as she thought of what had happened. Somehow she had to escape from here – she had to – but how? Dear God, how? They can see I am sane. I have done nothing to make them think otherwise. What am I to do? How can I ever get out of here?

Denying the tears that she knew would never stop if she let them flow, Mags got out of bed and walked towards the bathroom. Having splashed her face in cold water, she felt better able to cope. But on getting back to the misery of the ward, she wondered if she really could.

As she reached her bed, Aggie stirred. Mags held her breath. Aggie rolled over and looked up at her. Her eyes were blank. Nothing about her seemed threatening as she struggled to get up. Putting out her hand, Mags saw Aggie hesitate before taking it, and then allowed Mags to help her up. ‘Go back to your own bed, Aggie.’

‘Aggie wants to pee.’

‘All right, go that way to the bathroom.’

Aggie stared blankly in the direction Mags had pointed her in. Taking her hand once more, Mags gently persuaded Aggie to go with her. ‘There – there’s the lavatory. You’ll be all right now.’

Aggie smiled and then walked into the bathroom.

Mags leaned heavily on the wall. Her head pounded and her throat ached for a drink. Glancing up at the clock, she saw that it was an hour until breakfast – the first time they would get a drink – but she daren’t drink the water from the tap. Many of the women did so and sickness was rife as a result. Why can’t they give us basic human care? Or even a little kindness? This made her think of Iris, and she prayed that Iris would be on duty today. Iris was different from all the other staff and brought whatever influence she could to bear. She made this whole ordeal slightly bearable for Mags.

It was three hours later when Mags realized her wish. She was in the communal sitting room, staring out of the window, when she saw Iris cycling up the drive. Never had she been so relieved to see anyone in her life.