62. Kate

The Conference is tomorrow. I should be excited as Dex will almost certainly be there but I feel sick. Every meeting I’ve attended only highlighted the cavernous gap of Hugo’s presence. At night I heard his screams. Even the wind blowing against my small window sounded like his shrill squeals. Meat made me nauseous and Mina asked me endless questions that I could not answer.

All the makeup and jewellery in the world couldn’t disguise the fear and trauma on my face. As I sat numbly scribbling minutes of the meeting, I forced myself to look up at Austin. Each time my eyes met his I remembered the feel of his firm hand around my throat, the relentless thudding of his hand and length hitting my lower back.

Mina came to find me in the library where I held a book, unable to take in the words.

“Come with me,” she whispered as I stood up and followed.

She took me into the gardens where a small tea service was waiting. Ornate porcelain cups and dainty sandwiches gleamed in the sunshine. It