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Would they be scared? Would they cry out in terror?

Or would they simply turn away in disgust?

With the help of the wonderful nurses in the burns unit, Viyan had tried her best to make herself presentable, but she still feared how her children would react to seeing their mother like this, swathed in bandages, hooked up to machines, unable to lift her arms to wave hello.

Salman, Defne and Aasmah were familiar with trauma and suffering, sadly, but still Viyan worried about the effect her injuries would have on them.

Having seen her three days ago, looking tired, thin, but defiant, how would they react when they saw her now, lying in a hospital bed, brutalized and bandaged?

Swallowing down her fears, Viyan chided herself for her foolishness.

Yes, she had suffered grievously, only cheating death at the last minute.

Yes, she was in agony, with severe burns to forty per cent of her body.

But the fact was that she was lucky to be here at all.

Unlike poor Selima, she had escaped the diabolical incinerator, dragged from the darkness into the light.

What’s more, her face was largely unharmed, the ashen remains of those who had gone before her shielding Viyan’s delicate features from the worst ravages of the heat.

This was not only a huge relief in terms of her sense of self, her identity, it would also markedly improve the speed of her recovery and rehabilitation, as she could eat normally and communicate freely.

Given the extremity and desperation of her situation during her final hours on Dearham Farm, this was a major saving grace, a huge positive to pull from her terrible ordeal.

And never had words been more apt – she had been saved by Helen Grace.

It was thanks to her and her alone that she could embrace her future, heal her wounds and be reunited with her family again.

Unable to move her head, Viyan blinked at Peter, the kindly Kenyan nurse, who pressed ‘Connect’ on the phone that Helen had given her.

Immediately, Viyan’s heart started to pound in her chest. She knew she should be feeling an enormous sense of relief, of triumph even, but instead she felt anxious and tense.

Her nemesis was dead and the farm shut down, her fellow captives freed from their living nightmare, yet the shadow of Viyan’s experiences there lingered, leaving her unsettled, mistrustful and fearful.

Though she was now free, she was finding it hard to embrace her good fortune, even though preparations were in hand to transfer her to a specialist hospital in Turkey.

Helen had said she would pay for all her expenses and Viyan believed her, but still she expected the twist in the tail.

Could it really be true that her nightmare was over?

In front of her, the screen now sprang into life, revealing a joyful, chaotic scene.

Viyan’s mother could be glimpsed in the background, holding the phone up in her wobbling hand, but in front of her the smiling trio of Aasmah, Defne and Salman jostled for position.

Instinctively, Viyan returned the compliment, breaking into a heartfelt smile, only to wince as pain arrowed down the side of her face into her neck.

It was pure agony, but she didn’t relent, determined that her children should see that she was happy, safe and well.

Her subterfuge was not entirely successful, however, the trio pausing as they took in her sterile surroundings, her bandages, her pale face.

Salman in particular looked troubled, his bottom lip beginning to quiver, but sensing the danger, Aasmah took over, placing an arm around her little brother, reassuring him that Mama was fine and would be coming home soon.

For a moment, Salman seemed to hesitate, uncertain whether to believe his sister, but a gentle prod from Defne brought him to his senses.

Snapping into action, he bent down out of sight, reappearing clutching a posy of wild flowers, offering the explosion of colour up to the camera, as if he could pass them through the lens to his mother.

Now tears flowed, running down Viyan’s features and sliding off her chin.

She cried freely, generously, joyfully. Though separated for now, her family would soon be together again, united, happy, optimistic for the future.

The forces of darkness had tried to destroy Viyan, life had tried to break her, but both had failed.

She had withstood the onslaught, weathered the storm, taken her punishment.

She had survived .