‘Because I thought that maybe you were lonely.’
‘So you did pity me?’
‘No, I didn’t pity you, because I was lonely too.’
Heather laughed. ‘You? Lonely? How could you possibly be lonely with your perfect friends?’
‘They’re not perfect. But they are ambitious and sometimes that means they get caught up in their own lives. I wanted a friend in the place that I worked. Someone who understood my day-to-day life.’
‘Didn’t take you long to find some, though, did it, and what did you do when you did? You ridiculed me!’
‘I didn’t, Heather. It’s true, I didn’t defend you. It was very difficult to do that, the way you were behaving towards me. But it didn’t come from me.’
‘And I’m supposed to believe you?’
‘That’s up to you. I promise you it’s the truth, though.’ Emma got up, preparing to leave. She was fighting a losing battle here, but at least she had done what she had come here to do. ‘I’m going now, but just remember, I took the trouble to come and see you. Why would I do that if I hated you so much?’
‘I . . .’ Heather faltered. ‘I don’t know.’
Emma picked up her bag and slung it over her shoulder.
‘Please don’t go,’ Heather said. ‘I do believe you and, if it means anything to you, I’m sorry for what I did. I couldn’t help myself. I was just eaten up with jealousy.’
Slowly Emma sat back down. ‘You have nothing to be jealous of.’
Heather laughed. ‘Says you. With your youth, your looks and your slim figure.’
‘Looks aren’t everything.’
‘They are when you haven’t got them.’
‘So what are you going to do? Wallow in self-pity for the rest of your life?’
Heather sighed. ‘What choice do I have?’
Emma stood up again. ‘You have the choice not to be bitter and twisted. You have the choice to concentrate on what you dohave and make the best of it. Make a real go of your life, rather than sitting here in your own mess, thinking how badly everyone has treated you and taking it out on everyone else.’
‘Hah, you make it sound so easy.’
‘No, it’s not easy.’
‘And how would you know?’
‘Because, Heather, I don’t have the perfect life you’ve imagined. No one does. I’m on my own too. My parents live abroad and don’t give a stuff about me. My ex-boyfriend was obsessed with his career so now I’m living in staff accommodation in one tiny room, that most of the time I daren’t leave in case I get pounced on by someone who won’t take no for an answer. But it’s not always going to be like this. I’m going to make the most of every opportunity and do something with my life.’
‘Good for you. But I don’t have your opportunities.’
‘Opportunities don’t just come along,’ Emma replied. ‘You have to make them happen.’
‘There you go again, thinking you know everything. Sit down and I’ll tell you about opportunities or lack of them.’
Emma sat down and Heather continued.
‘You say your parents don’t have time for you, but at least you have parents. I didn’t know my father. In fact, I don’t think my mother even knew him. He was just someone she slept with when she was blotto with drink. She loved a drink, did my mother. In fact, she loved the drink more than anything else, including me. Even when I was little she’d leave me on my own for hours, often days at a time, when she was on a bender. And when she came back, it was me who looked after her rather than the other way around. She died of liver failure when I was twelve. Looking back, it was amazing she even lasted that long.
‘After that I went from one foster home to another. No one loved me enough to keep me and then I went into a children’shome with all the other kids that no one wanted. And if you thinkIwas a bully, you don’t know how bad bullying can be. Most days, I just didn’t want to live. But then I met someone. He was called Billy. We fell in love and I thought that was it, that we’d be together for ever, just like in the films. But he left the home before me and got into a bad crowd.’ She paused and Emma could see she was struggling with her emotions. ‘One night, I was waiting for him at the precinct after school, but he didn’t turn up. I was devastated. I thought he’d gone off me. Like everyone else, I wasn’t good enough for him. Later I found out he’d been in a fight. The other boy had a knife and that was the end of my Billy.’
‘Oh, Heather, I’m so sorry.’ Emma wanted to hug her, but didn’t think Heather would welcome it.
