The walk back upstairs tests my waitressing skills – carrying the tray and the oil lamp together is no easy task – and by the time I get to the room, half our dinner has washed over the side. I step through the doorway and force a smile. I can’t imagine how Tom is feeling, but I have to act normal. I have to stay positive for his sake.

‘Good news. I found some soup.’

He lies with his back to me, not moving.

I set the steaming tray on the bedside table then wipe my hands on my skirt. Still no sign of life. Perhaps he’s fallen back to sleep.

‘Excuse me, sir, but I believe you ordered some water?’

I shake his shoulder and he twists his head and stares at me. It’s like before when … No, whatever was inside him has gone. I startled him, that’s all. Ignoring the chill spreading in my stomach, I pick up a glass and make my voice light.

‘Come on, you can’t drink lying down.’

He struggles to sit up and I hover over him, relieved when he finally manages it. While he gulps down the water, I reposition the pillows behind him and then take his empty glass. He leans back and a fit of coughing wracks his body. Just when I think it will never end, his shoulders stop shaking and he wipes his mouth.

Dialling up my smile, I reach for the food. ‘Right, if you’re quite done …’

But he isn’t. I sit on the edge of the bed and rub his arm while he coughs and coughs. His lips are dry and flaky and there are dark circles under his eyes, his face at peak paleness. I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone look so ill.

He catches me looking and huffs. ‘Do I look as bad as I feel?’

‘Depends. Do you feel like crap?’

‘Worse.’

In truth, he looks like he’s been possessed by demons and gone three rounds of exorcism with a witch. But now probably isn’t the time to share.

I glance at the tray, noticing the steam has gone from the soup. The room is icy cold, yet I haven’t seen Tom shiver once. Perhaps he’s so cold that he can’t feel it any more, I think that can happen with hypothermia. Or maybe it’s a side effect of demonic possession and it will wear off with time. If I had a phone signal I could look it up, though I doubt it will be on WebMD.

I place one of my blankets around him and he fingers his throat.