Her skin now was flaky, with pale freckles and fine wrinkles, and blue veins like a tracery underneath. One day my hands would probably look like that, although with all the gardening I did, they’d be rough and sun-damaged as well. As I watched, the fingers twitched as if they wanted to reach out, and I took a step back.
At the same time, the nurse leant over her again to adjust the mask. ‘Oh dear, she’s –’
I didn’t wait to hear what she thought was happening. I turned and ran.
The front door of the place was locked but I found the green release button and jabbed it hard until the door hissed open. Outside in the cool air, I sucked in long breaths, feeling sweat roll down my spine under my shirt. I told myself it was the heating that they always turned up high for the tenants.
When I w
