only a matter of time before it broke through our fragile web of denial, forcing us to confront the truth and acknowledge who we are: two people in love – a love that nobody else could possibly understand.

The words fire from my mouth like bullets, ricocheting off the walls before I can even register what I'm saying.

She can't just be a face, a body; there has to be more than that, some kind of connection. And I can't connect, don't want to connect, with anyone.

Before there was anything, there was Lochan.

At the age of five she has already come to terms with one of the life's harshest lessons: that the world isn't fair.

And the very important fact that I'm here to worry with you and go through all of this - every little bit of it - by your side, even your worst-case-scenario, should it somehow come to that. You wouldn't be doing any of it alone.' Her voice drops and she looks down at our hands, fingers entwined, resting on her lap. 'Whatever happens, there will always be us.

Get through today – you can fall apart tomorrow. Get through tomorrow, you can fall apart the day after . . .