‘If you go to the GUM clinic then the test is completely confidential. Even if it comes back positive then you need to sign a consent form for the information to be released to any other medical bodies, including your GP. The information would stay completely within that specific clinic and wouldn’t be shared with anyone.’

‘I can’t get my head round this,’ Adrian said.

‘Did the attack happen less than seventy-two hours ago?’

‘Yes.’

‘Then I will give you some PEP, post-exposure prophylaxis.’ She unlocked the steel locker in her room and took out two separate bottles of pills. ‘Here you go. One of each a day for the next thirty days. When you finish the course, we can run the HIV test again if you want to. Call me if you need me to arrange an appointment.

‘There is another self-test you can do yourself, at home, anonymously, if you need even more reassurance. It’s not worth taking a risk with this, Adrian. Just get the test done. I work at the GUM clinic once a week; if you want, I can call with the test results once they come through. I know how stressful this must be for you.’

Adrian let out an incredulous laugh at her remark but then instantly felt guilty – she was trying to help him.

‘You don’t mind doing that for me? I would really appreciate that, thank you.’

‘Come and see me next week. I’ll check your injuries again; make sure you are healing properly. You can expect some bleeding after bowel movements. Rather than wiping, maybe have a shower whenever you can or use wet wipes. Eat fibrous food to try to keep your stools loose. You need to give yourself time to heal. I’ll write you a sick note for work. We’ll start with two weeks off, then we can see how you are then.’

‘Thank you, Dr Hadley.’

‘Adrian, call me at any time if you’re feeling suicidal. I’m usually in the hospital, but if I can’t take your call, I will ring you right back as soon as I can.’

‘Thank you, Dr Hadley,’ he said, his voice cracking and the tears springing again.

What the hell was going on? How was he even having this conversation? Whose life is this?

‘Zoe, please. I’m glad you trusted me with this. You did the right thing coming to me. It’s important you don’t go through this alone.’

She handed him the slip of paper for the pathology lab before taking his other hand in hers. For the first time since it had happened, he didn’t flinch at someone’s touch. He felt safe here.

He took as deep a breath as he could before unlocking her office, his sanctuary, and venturing out into the unknown again.

Chapter Fifty-Two