Although I tried not to, I hated them for this for a while, which made me feel horrible because I also loved them so much.

It is disgusting, all of it. But also satisfying to clean something this dirty, the improvement so radical.

I fit the key in the keyhole and open the door and recognise the unoiled squeal the hinges make and again time is reversed.

‘Sometimes with friends I get paranoid they don’t actually like me at all and I convince myself they have some ulterior motive, which is stupid I know, but I convince myself until I feel sad, or like upset. And who knows maybe I’m right.’ She clears her throat. ‘Maybe I’m really not very likeable?

where every whisper becomes a hush mingling with other hums and murmurs. Libraries are my favourite because of this sound quality.