I have refused so many visitors that she is concerned about how I will react. ‘I’m sorry, she’s really insistent,’ says Nurse Peach. ‘I told her you didn’t have to see her if you don’t want to.’ ‘Who is it?’ My first thought is to go and look for Jed and see if he wants to bite some ears off. This is what he does to people who get in his way. But before Nurse Peach has a chance to answer we are at the day room door, and I can tell that she has been charmed by my visitor and wants to give it a chance. Marise has her back to me when I walk in. From the way she stands, I can see she is nervous. I would be, too. A commotion is in progress down the corridor where a man is being committed. You might think you are voluntary in here, but it can be an illusion if you start causing problems. He wails and shouts for help; the doors have been temporarily locked. Nurse Peach has to leave me alone with Marise. When she turns round I see she is more beautiful than ever, the butterfly wings of her grey silk hair cupped under her chin, an uncertain smile illuminating her face.
