Background: Angela is shocked when William, an old friend from her past, who she hoped never to see again, comes back into her life, after he applies for a role at her work and successfully secures the job. William’s sudden reappearance puts Angela on edge. She’s terrified he’s discovered her secret, which she needs to protect her family from. William’s convinced Angela knows what happened to his former girlfriend, Caz, who hasn't been seen for twenty years, and that something terrible happened to her. The only person, who can help Angela, is her once best friend, Michelle, but Angela hasn’t seen Michelle for more than a decade. Faced with the threat of William’s return, they know they’ll need to work together to save their future, even if this does mean reopening old wounds, and revisiting a past they'd rather keep buried.

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September 1998

‘You’re . . . you’re going to stay in London,’ Mum shouts down the line, her voice spiky and rising in temp.

I hold the telephone away from my ear, cringing. I imagine her pace quickening. Her eyes will be darting around, looking for my dad for an explanation. He’ll have hidden away somewhere. He’ll know she’s on the phone to me, she talks so loud. Just her calling me sweet pea, will alert him. Mum will guess I would’ve cleared this with Dad, before talking it through with her. Dad’s the person I always go to first, if ever I have a problem; I think Mum’s always been quite resentful of that.

‘It won’t be forever,’ I say. I can already hear Mum’s counter arguments in my head. You’d think I’d decided to move to Australia. ‘Michelle’s dad’s got us a place in Pimlico. It’ll only be for a few months. Think of it as a sort of gap year.’

‘A gap year.’ Mum tuts. ‘When I was your age, as soon as I left school, I went out and got a job. I couldn’t afford not to, and half of the money I earned went to my parents.’

‘Yes, but times have changed, Mum. Dad’s happy enough for me to stay here.’ He’s not going to be happy with me for telling her that. She’ll blame him now. God, he’s really not going to be thanking me. ‘I will be going out and looking for a job . . . that was one of dad’s conditions. I’m not going to be asking you for any handouts.’

I knew that would clinch the deal with her. I’d spoken to Dad a couple of weeks ago. Although, he wasn’t exactly aware we’d already moved to London. I know why she’s like this. She was devastated when I told her I wanted to go to university. At sixteen I’d been diagnosed with breast cancer, and she’d told me how terrified she was that she might lose me when I was having treatment. The doctors told me I had a strong chance as they’d caught it early, but it was still a dark time.

Memories of the effects the treatment had on me begin to take over me; I hold my hand up to my forehead. It’s what made me so determined to live the best life I could, once I got the all clear, it’s what made me want to go university. In an instant I’m back there, in the waiting room, waiting to be called in for the doctor to confirm my results. I don’t think I’ve ever felt the same surge of fear since. I couldn’t even bring myself to talk to mum while I was sitting there waiting. Part of me wanted to be told what was going on as soon as possible, but another part of me couldn’t bear the thought of it.

I imagine Mum blowing her cheeks out. ‘Well, if your father thinks it’s okay, then it’s okay, I guess. I keep forgetting you’re an adult now, sweet pea. In my head you’re still that four-year-old girl, clinging to my legs all day. But I was expecting you to come home soon; I was planning all of these outings for us.’

I almost hear Mum sniff in the background. She’s not going to burst into tears is she? Please don’t start crying, she’ll end up setting me off if she does.

‘Mum, I’ll be fine. We’re not far to come on the train, you can come and visit whenever you want. So long as you give me a ring beforehand, so I can kick whatever boy I’ve brought home, out of my bed.’

‘Oh God, I feel faint,’ Mum says, which makes me laugh.

I end the call with Mum a few moments later, relief sweeping through me. I place the phone back onto the receiver.

I’ve been dreading telling her for weeks. It wasn’t as bad as I thought it was going to be. Dad made it a condition that he’d agree, if I was the one to break the news to mum. Coward was the first thing that popped into my head. I half-smile.

I can imagine how things would’ve played out, if he told Mum my plans before I had the chance to speak to her. She would’ve flown into a rage and would’ve been straight on the phone to me, demanding I come home. I think he quite likes the peace and quiet when I’m not at home, although I’m sure Mum will be moaning about my decision later this evening, while they’re having dinner.

‘So, she’s fine with you staying?’

I was aware, while I was on the phone that Michelle was hovering in the background. I wipe my eyes and cough. She’s twirling her finger in her black hair and leaning against the wall. She’s been going on at me to make the call to Mum for days, telling me to just get it out of the way. It’s alright for her though; she doesn’t seem to have the same problem dealing with her parents. Her parents are happy for her to do anything, so long as she doesn’t get into trouble, and Michelle never gets into trouble. Why can’t my parents be like that? I wouldn’t want them to not care, but sometimes Mum needs to back off a little bit.

‘Yes. She’s a bit upset, which is to be expected, and then she went all soppy on me, which was painful. She’s been expecting me home for days now, but she’ll get over it. She’ll just need to get used to not having me and my sister at home all the time, we weren’t going to stay at home forever. Come on, Lauren and Hayley will already be on the second bottle of wine by now. We’ve got an hour, let’s raise a glass to independence, and then we’re going out to celebrate. This is going to be the best time of our lives, isn’t it?’

I link arms with Michelle. She stiffens slightly. What’s up with her? I thought she’d be pleased that I’d finally spoken to my mum.

I decide not to linger on the question and we march back out into the living room.

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Character List:

Angela Watkins - Protagonist 

Paul Watkins - Angela's husband

Rebecca Watkins - Angela's daughter 

Michelle Blake - Angela's former best friend 

Kirsty - Receptionist (Angela's friend) 

Olivia - Angela's boss

William Harris - Angela's former friend 

Caroline (Caz) - Angela's friend 

Hayley - Angela's former friend

Lauren - Angela's former friend