Our parents were never happy; they fought constantly like politicians exchanging insults to the bitter end. For the greater part of our childhood their relationship was marked by angry verbal encounters in a daily war of attrition.

I left the hospital and got into my car and drove to the local beach. This place was very special to us from the time that we both could walk. 

Cancer: the very sound of that awful word filled my head and my heart with uncontrollable grief and anger. I couldn’t bear the pain of seeing her youthful eyes close for the last time. I wanted to remember her in the full glory of life. 

[We must emphasise that the following is a fictional story that will be serialised during the next fortnight while Mr & Mrs Editor are on holiday!]