‘You like it?’

‘It’s wonderful.’ I told him, my voice high and bright. ‘Don’t you?’

‘It’s taken a long time for me to come here.’ He answered stiffly.

Again I hid a pang of sadness; but remembering the conversation that had sparked our expedition I quickly composed myself.

‘Tell me,’ I urged. He casually placed a hand on my leg, it was an easy gesture – one I didn’t mind – I only noticed as it was the first time he’d done anything like that.

‘I can only describe it from my point of view; since I don’t know it from yours.’ He whispered as he leant into me further; his voice even. ‘The second we walked through that alleyway I switched off. And I’m still not here now if I’m honest; not really.’

He paused and studied my face before continuing. ‘It’s a natural reaction, as soon as I heard the noises, saw the people I -’ he broke off.

‘It’s okay.’ I said slowly; realising for the first time how difficult this was for him. ‘You don’t have to do this.’ I took his hand in mine and linked our fingers together. ‘I understand; you don’t have to tell me any more.’

‘Evie, if I hadn’t spent twelve years living with this then there’s no way I could even imagine sitting here, in this square, with you.’ There was a hint of reproach to his tone; he wanted to tell me, he wanted me to listen. ‘As I said; it has taken a long time and a lot of hard work for me to be able to adjust in the way that I do. It’s like switching off a light.’ He explained. ‘That’s the way Esme describes it. I can go from being me, comfortable and normal’ he practically stammered the word ‘to being vacant and absent within seconds. I’m an empty vessel.’ He laughed now.

‘I never knew.’ I shook my head disbelieving. ‘Describe to me what you see here, now.’

‘Well, it’s unlikely I’ll remember any of this conversation we’re having. I’m kind of on autopilot, you know, talking and moving as I usually do – so naturally that you wouldn’t even notice. But I’m not fully present; my mind has switched off to the crowd, the music and all the other noises that you can hear…’

I looked across to the sea of people that were making enough sound to wake a coma-victim; I could barely even hear myself think, Cameron had to speak directly into my ear for me to hear him over the band that was now in full swing – how was it possible he could tune them out?

‘They’re like a blur of colour.’ He said, watching me now as though he sensed my misunderstanding. ‘And I can hear nothing but faint muffled noises, its as though – well, as though my brain can’t cope. At least, it didn’t use to be able to. I’ve done everything that I can to change that.’

I put my hand on his shoulder now. ‘It’s been really hard for you?’ I said, though it was more a statement of recognition than a question. He nodded but looked away now, suddenly embarrassed by my attention.

‘Come on,’ He said quickly as he lifted me to my feet with one easy tug of my arm. ‘I know I’m good at adjusting but I’m not exactly well-practiced; we should get out of here before I have a relapse and start to freak out.’ His tone was teasing now.