ROSIE

I thought i’d be waiting a lot longer, sitting on the stairs, just out of view of the corridor. I didn’t want to be with Mum and Tom, I wanted to be here, ready for whatever was coming.

What ended up coming was Julian’s brother, fighting back sobs with his hand clutching the banister as he stumbled down towards me.

He didn’t see me at first, but when he did, he stopped dead in his tracks. I looked up at the tower of him, rising to my feet.

“You’re leaving already?” I asked, stating the obvious.

“Yes, I am. If you have any sense, you’ll stay the fuck away...