Early morning, a couple of months later, Joanna phoned. She’d heard about Adam and wanted to come over. “OK” I heard myself say as I hung up. That evening when she arrived I wasn’t washed or dressed, I hadn’t even run a brush through my hair. I opened the door, turned and walked, assuming she would follow. The first word I spoke – “tea?”

“Alice, is this true?” As I walked out from the kitchen, holding the tea, I saw Joanna reading my diary, where I had written everything! “It would make a great book.” Joanna explained.

I went along with it, not knowing what else to do. She made a few calls, a publisher wanted to see us right away. I splashed water on my face, threw on some clothes and we left.

Leaving the publishers I crossed the road. A man was crossing  from the other side. I noticed he was wearing black jeans and a black leather jacket, and I looked up at his face. His eyes were a startling blue. If he had reached out and touched me, I think I would have turned and followed him, but he didn’t and I reached the pavement alone.