At eighty my stomach grew so large my family got frightened. The scan found something — and then a twelve-year-old record with my late husband’s name on it, and a folder called PROJECT AGNES.

I am going to put the whole of it here because the family have discussed it and because there is nothing in it that is anybody’s business but ours, and I would rather set it out than have it summarised by somebody else.

Aggie.

If you’re reading this then something has happened that you can’t explain, which is what I said, so I’ll take it that you’ve kept your word.

The clinic you’ve been going to every year since Noemi — the one you think is through my work — isn’t through my work.

It’s a study. Dr. Evanthia Kastellis runs it out of Marren. You’re a participant. You have been since the March of 2002.

I signed you onto it. I did it without telling you and I’ve had eleven years to feel about it however I was going to feel about it.

The reason is Noemi. You know the reason.

It’s paid for to 2034. All of it, up front, in 2013. You don’t owe anybody anything and nobody is going to send you a bill.