The train carriage buzzes with chatter but to Sian it sounds like a distant hum. In her mind, she's going over recent events which have changed her life for ever.

Two nights ago, when he came home, he held her tight. Apologised for being late once more. Then he drank two shots of his favourite tipple, Tequila, while Sian dished out their chicken casserole.

Over dinner, she listened to David talking about his day at the surgery and his moans about having yet another emergency call, just as he was about to leave for home.

Then, as they cleared away the dishes, she remarked, 'I found a rhododendron blossom in your jeans pocket.' He smiled saying he didn't know how it had got there. But Sian knew.

Today, at five o'clock, on leaving the hospital where she worked, she drove out to nearby Norwood Country Park and spotting David's empty car, she parked alongside it, noting that the 'Doctor On Call,' sign had been removed.

Then she followed the route they'd often strolled until she came upon a slight incline covered in rhododendron bushes. Quietly, she made her way up until on reaching the top, Sian peered through a mesh of thick foliage and colourful blossoms and saw their naked bodies.

Now she remembers his pale, frightened face and the woman's mouth agape in terror. She also remembers the sound of her own anguished howl which seemed to last for ever and ever.

'The lady's bleeding,' a child's voice breaks into those recent memories. Looking up she meets the gaze of a child. Glancing down, Sian can see a dark spread of dried blood on her uniform and drawing her coat around her, smiles at the child.

The child's head disappears behind the seat in front of her and placing a protective hand on her bag, Sian finds solace with the thought that David's heart, wrapped in foil, will always remain with her. And the insiduous worm, released from its bottle, now nestles under the tongue of his dead lover.