Predictably, Patricia hadn’t been as enthusiastic about Judith’s forthcoming trip. ‘Don’t know why you’re bothering. He’s not even your real father!’ she’d said. But Judith had just smiled back: she’d long since grown immune to her mother’s cruel jibes. And she hadn’t felt this content in a long, long time.

‘What time d’you want to leave?’ Gareth asked her, eating his daily staple of three Weetabix and hot milk. She was flying from Cardiff airport and he’d offered to take her on the bike. She knew he was being kind, but she also knew he loved any excuse to go on the motorway and accelerate for a few brief, exhilarating seconds.

‘Half twelve? Just in case there’s traffic?’

‘Yep,’ he answered through a mouthful of cereal, wandering back to his room. She smiled to herself and continued packing.

The radio was on, the theme music for Our Tune was playing and Simon Bates had begun telling another tale of woe. About ‘Leanne’ – That’s not her real name, folks – who had been really happy for a long time with ‘Greg’ – That’s not his real name either, folks. Simon Bates went on to describe this apparently idyllic relationship and how well things were going until Leanne went on holiday to Greece last year, got drunk and made a stupid mistake with a guy she met in a bar. Changing gear, the DJ launched into melodrama mode, drawing out his sentences and punctuating the story with meaningful silences as the theme tune filled in the gaps. And that mistake would cost her dearly …

Judith sat there in shock. This was Lana’s story! ‘Leanne’ was Lana. And Simon Bates was telling the whole sorry tale of infidelity, remorse and heartbreak. On national radio, for all to hear!

She was so glued to the spot she didn’t hear Gareth marching into her room. ‘You listening to this crap?’ he said, his hand shaking as he turned up the volume, not even waiting for a reply. Simon Bates was concluding the tale. So Greg, if you’re out there, Leanne wants you to know that hurting you was the biggest mistake of her life … and she’ll regret it till the day she dies.

‘Oh, for God’s sake,’ mumbled Judith, appalled by the melodrama.

Gareth turned to her, staring in disbelief. And so this is for you, Greg. From Leanne, who’s hoping, just hoping, that you’ll forgive her …

Neither moved as the opening bars of Jim Diamond’s ‘I Should Have Known Better’ filtered through the airwaves, the lyrics piercing the atmosphere.

It’s true, I took our love for granted all along.

And trying to explain where I went wrong, I just don’t know.

Gareth leant across to the radio and switched it off.

‘What you gonna do, mate?’ Judith ventured to ask.

But he didn’t answer, and went back to his room. She knew it would be unwise to follow him.

Shortly afterwards, she heard Gareth go out, shouting, ‘I’ll be back to pick you up.’