I can’t judge how long I sit in the chair, my eyes gazing at nothingness. I feel totally drained; my body leaden. Jenny’s been my best friend for years. We’ve done everything together. How could she have done this? She’s smart and successful, so why would she be jealous of me? My mouth is dry; I need to get water. My steps are heavy as I walk downstairs to the kitchen.
“Briony, are you okay?” Mum comes out of the lounge to meet me. I hear a medical drama playing in the background. “Oh my God! What’s wrong? Your face is chalk white,” she says. She draws me into the lounge and sits me down on the sofa, reaching for the remote to turn off the television.
Dad comes and sits alongside, putting his arm around my shoulder. “What’s wrong, pet? Has something happened? Do you need a doctor?”
I su
