Chapter 240

The city continued around us as though nothing extraordinary was happening. Cars rolled past. Someone laughed across the street. A cyclist rang his bell as he weaved between pedestrians. Somewhere nearby, church bells began chiming the hour.

Life carried on but mine felt as though it had quietly stopped.

Dominic was the first to break the silence.

He pushed himself away from the car and walked towards me, his steps slow, almost cautious, as though he were approaching a frightened animal that might bolt if he moved too quickly.

When he finally stopped in front of me, there was barely an arm’s length between us.

His eyes drifted briefly to the folder in my hands before returning to my face. “What was this place?” His voice was calm when he asked, almost too calm.

I looked down at the folder. There wasn’t much point pretending. I’d already told him at the hospital itself that I was going to leave. “I’m making arrangements.”