Now she wished she hadn’t picked it. Her heart was racing and she was suddenly covered in perspiration.  She got up from her chair on rubbery knees but she felt so woozy, she fell back in her chair.

Her breath came in short sharp bursts and she knew an asthmatic attack was coming up. Fumbling in her drawer, she brought out her inhaler and stuck it into her mouth.

After taking a sufficient dose, she lay in her chair until she felt better enough to get up. First things first, she needed to get to the hospital. Fast.

When she finally gathered her wits, she packed her handbag and picked her phone. Staring at the device for a long time, she finally placed a call.

Looking at the ringing phone, the person on the other end of the line smiled before pressing the green button.