The No-Show

The Zoom is only scheduled to last for an hour, but they end up talking for almost two. There are tears, some from Joseph; Jane cries, too, and he loves her for it, the way she can weep for this woman she never knew. From the very start, Jane didn’t just accept Siobhan’s memory into their life but welcomed her. It was only when he met Jane’s father that Joseph began to understand Jane’s insistence that the people we’d loved and lost shouldn’t just be left behind.

They are kind to her. Professional but gentle at the same time. She looks at their serious, inquisitive faces and thinks suddenly of Aggie’s painting in her flat, the one that says Most people are shit, what are you going to do about it? And she thinks, I’m going to notice all the ones who are doing their very best not to be.

Aggie is wearing a large orange anorak and wellies; Lou is in a sleek grey trench coat; Jane’s in her pale pink jumper again, because it’s a Friday, and – as Aggie reminded her this morning – being brave doesn’t have to mean she changes everything all at once.