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“This isn’t something that can be rushed, Miles. I’m guessing there are a lot of people, particularly hospital employees, who know you’re unhappy with him right now. You’ll need to be patient, until there’s nobody looking at you,”he explains, sounding much more rational than me.

I know what he’s saying makes sense, and of course, I’m going to follow his instructions, but the urge to walk into my mother’s hospital room and beat that arsehole to death is overwhelming me.

“I can do that,” I tell him.

Without saying anything more, Maximus hangs up.

On my way out of the hospital, I get an update from the nurse looking after Mum. I give her a brief description of our family dynamic, and she lets me know that even though Mum’s in a relationship with Bruce, I’m still down as her next of kin. So, legally I have more right to be here than he does.

As appreciative as I am about that, knowing what I have planned, I don’t want to draw any more attention to us than is necessary. I ask her to let me know when he leaves, so I can bring my sister to visit.

It makes me look good that I’m willing to share the time, and not just kick him out—something I may need when the police eventually get involved.

Around three hours later, the nurse calls to let me know Bruce has gone home. I haven’t told Courtney about Mum yet, as I knew she’d want to go to the hospital straight away, and I didn’t want her anywhere near that arsehole.

Tears stream down her face when I tell her, and they don’t stop for the duration of the car ride to the hospital. She runs to the hospital room, but when faced with our comatosed mother, she stands over by the wall, not wanting to get too close.

“I know she’s done a lot of bad things, and she’s not the greatest parent, but she’s still our mum. It hurts to see her like this,” Courtney says, edging closer to the bed.

“I know, Court. You’re allowed to care about her,” I tell her, stroking her hair reassuringly as I walk her closer.

She reaches down and takes hold of Mum’s hand, a fresh round of tears slipping over her cheeks as she sobs. “She’s so cold. Can she hear me?”

I wrap my arm around her shoulders, my heart sinking when I realise I don’t know how to protect her from this. “I hope she can. You should talk to her. I’m going to make a phone call.”

I move into the hallway, giving Court some time alone with Mum, though I never take my eyes off her. She drops into the seat beside the bed, crying as she talks to the woman who stopped being her mum a couple of years ago.

I don’t think; I scroll through my phone until I find Dee’s name and hit dial. It goes straight to voicemail, which surprises me at first, but then I remember she had to go into work early.She normally has her phone on, but maybe she forgot to charge it.

I leave her a brief message, letting her know I’m at the hospital with Mum, asking her to call me back, and then I hang up. I forget all about the call when a doctor approaches me, asking if I’m Mum’s next of kin.

I can tell by his expression that this isn’t going to be good, and when he takes me into this sterile-looking room, with nothing except two chairs, a small coffee table, and a box of tissues, it confirms my suspicions.

In the politest, most gentle way he can, the doctor destroys me. “I’m sorry to be the one to tell you this, but the tests we undertook today have confirmed that, unfortunately, your mother is brain dead. Our machine is breathing for her right now, which is currently the only thing keeping her alive. Even if she were to start breathing for herself, there’s no neurological function, meaning her brain is already dead.”

The words echo around my head, and no matter how many times I hear them, they don’t get easier. “What… I mean, what does that mean, Doctor?”

“It means she will not survive. We’d like to do more tests on her in four hours’ time, but if they’re the same—which we’re almost certain they will be—we’ll discuss the possibility of taking her off life support. Until then, you have to be aware, if she deteriorates on her own, we won’t intervene with any life-saving measures. Do you understand?”

I nod, although I’m not sure I do, so I clarify with him just to be sure. “The only reason she’s not dead already is because you’re still breathing for her. If she fails the next set of tests, I have to decide if I want to turn the machine off and let her die, or keep her on it, knowing her brain is already dead.

“But there’s a chance she might not make it to the next set of tests, and if that’s the case, you’re going to let her die. You won’t perform CPR on her. That sound about right?”

“Yes,” the doctor says, giving me a sad smile.

I let out a breath that turns into a sigh. “I better go let my family know. Will you update me once you’ve completed the tests, please?”

The doctor reaches out with his hand to shake mine, offering his condolences. “Of course,” he says. “I really am sorry about your mother.”

I don’t know what else to say to him, so I shake his hand and leave. I walk into Mum’s hospital room, and this time, when I look at her, my heart breaks.

I don’t see the woman who ruined her life with drugs. I see the fierce, loving woman who raised me, who loved and protected me. She’s had a hard life, and she’s made all the wrong choices, but for a while, she was a great mum, and that’s the woman I’m losing today.

Before I can say anything to Courtney, the nurse who is looking after Mum, motions for me to come out into the corridor, looking concerned. “Security has just informed me that Bruce is back. They’re stalling him for a few minutes. What would you like me to do?”

I take in a ragged breath as I look over at where my sister is holding Mum’s hand. “We’ll go for an hour or two. Tell him that’s she’s going to die, and make sure he says goodbye, then get rid of him. We’ll be back in time for her next round of tests, and we don’t want him here then.

“If anything happens with her before then, please let me know and we’ll be straight back. I’d be grateful if security could have him gone before we return.”