The time had to be now. No more dithering. No more delays. Deep breath, close eyes, breath out. Enter.

But where was everyone? And where was here? Here was nowhere she knew, and no-one she knew was here.

The conversation muted and stopped, and in the silence came the stares. She was stuck stopped, her mouth choked up, it was if a freezing anaesthetic had kicked in.

A voice. Directed at her.

“At last,” it sounded with stricken clarity, “you’ve arrived.”

Arrived? Where? With whom?

Those she was going to confront a moment ago were like a waking dream, rapidly dwindling from consciousness.

Then, her voice, as if it were not hers, spoke: “Yes,” it announced, “I’m here.”