Jake followed me to the cafeteria and handed me a letter. I recognised the stamp on it.

“I know the timing is a bit shitty, but this came for you.”

“When is the right time to find out who my real mother was?”

“Do you want me to take it home with me until you’re ready?”

“No, thank you,” I replied. “I might as well get it over and done with.”

I took the envelope from Jake and ripped it open, quickly scanning the contents. My heart pounded.

“Are you okay?” Jake asked.

“Eleanor was my mother,” I replied, unable to control the emotions stirring inside of me. Tears ran down my cheeks as the magnitude of the moment hit me.

“Come on, mate, this is good news, right?”

“He killed my mother,” I cried. “What’s good about that?”

Jake looked at me. “Shit, I’m so sorry, I didn’t think.” He pulled me into a hug. I was grateful for a shoulder to cry on.

“A part of me didn’t want it to be true.”

“Why?”

I pulled away from him.

“Because then my father wouldn’t be responsible for murdering my mother. I’d have had some hope of finding her alive, and happy, but not now, he took everything important away from me.”

“What are you gonna do?”

“In time, I’ll confront him with what I know, but I have to see my grandmother. She deserves to hear it from me.”

“Do you want me to come with you?”

“I’m not going anywhere until Matty is awake.”

“Me either.”

“Let’s not mention any of this to Carolann,” I said. “She has enough to worry about right now.”

“Agreed, now come on, let’s go back to the room.”

I paid for the drinks and together we returned to Matty’s room.

“When do you think he will wake up?”

“I have no idea, but you know what he’s like – it’ll be when he wants to. He’ll milk this for all it’s worth though.”

I laughed. “Yeah, I think you’re right.”

“He’ll beat this,” Jake said. “Once he gets over the shock of having a shaved head.”

“He does love his hair.”

“It’ll grow back, but he’ll throw a hissy fit when he realises it’s gone.”

All joking aside, I worried if the Matt I knew of old was still in there. I missed him desperately. I prayed he would come back to us soon.

Where am I? I wondered.

I felt like I was stood on a precipice. In front of me was a blinding light, pulling me closer to it, but behind me, I could hear voices echoing, urging me to stay.

What should I do?

The light felt so inviting, and I inched closer to it.

I turned around and looked.

I miss you, I clearly heard. Come back to us.

I didn’t want to go back. I wanted to go forward and into the light.

I just had to take a few more steps.

Willing myself to move, I stepped forward, but suddenly, the figure of a young woman approached me.

She looked beautiful, and something about her seemed familiar.

Matthew, it’s not your time, she said, her voice soft and calm.

“I want to stay.”

I understand, but you have your life to live.

“Don’t make me go back,” I begged.

You must go back, she said. There’s something I want you to do for me, she said.

“What can I do for you? I asked, curious.

Tell my son I love him very much, and that I’m always with him.

“But I don’t know your son.”

Bradley is my son.

And that was it. As quickly as she appeared, she was gone.

The bright light faded as I turned, walking back toward the voices.

I opened my eyes.

“Matty, can you hear me?” Declan asked, leaning over me.

“She said she loves you,” I said.

“Who?” he asked, seemingly confused.

“Eleanor,” I croaked. “Your mum.”