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“She can’t have the zopiclone. Just bring up some paracetamol.”

Lulu returned a few minutes later, a glass of water and two small boxes in hand. “Here you go.”

Dylan rose from the rocking chair and sat down on the edge of the bed again. “What’s this?” he asked Lulu.

“It’s some tablets I picked up in Switzerland. Herbal. They help me sleep. You know that.”

Dylan frowned but examined the back of the packet. “This is okay, I suppose. Do you want some herbal relief, Emily?”

I nodded.

“Just two tablets. Here.”

Sitting up, I took the water and the tablets from him and swallowed.

“I thought I was doing so well, especially today,” I whispered, my voice husky.

“Emily, you’re doing brilliantly. I think today you were briefly in the eye of the storm. As time goes on, the eye will get bigger and bigger, until you only see clear skies. It just takes time.”

Clear skies. I wanted clear skies now. When would this cruel torture end?

Will it ever end?

Settling down into bed, I closed my eyes. I was suddenly, desperately tired.

I was vaguely aware of Lulu bringing Dylan a cup of something and his book. He shifted from the bed into the rocking chair, and I glimpsed her bending to kiss him.

“I’ll order some food,” she murmured.

“Thanks, Lu.”

And finally, darkness descended, saving me from my grief once more.

Chapter VII Goodbye

The following morning, I woke early. My head throbbed and buzzed with the monotony of the white noise and what I suspected was a hangover. On the plus side, Numb was still with me, and I welcomed my friend like the prodigal she was. I’d missed her.

Disoriented and feeling thirsty, I rose unsteadily and headed down to the kitchen. No one else was up. The large clock on the kitchen wall announced that it was not yet six. I took a glass tumbler from the shelf, filled it with water from the tap, and gulped it down.

My mind was hazy about the previous night, and I struggled to recall what happened. As I stared blankly at the kitchen wall, the night’s events slowly unfolded.

Oh no.

Dylan and Lulu glowering at each other, me running down the street, running away from them and the pain. Dylan catching me and carrying me back.

His feet—he hurt his feet.

I was such an inconvenience.

Poor Dylan.

Suddenly, all the emotion I experienced the previous night barged past Numb and into my chest.

No.

I heaved, swamped by my loss, and doubled over, sinking to the floor as it consumed me.

I tried to breathe.