'Too much, too young'

1991 - it was summer I think. It was definitely a hot day.

I was just about to go to work. The post arrived. Excited about receiving a hand written envelope instead of a bill, I decided to quickly read the letter before I left for work.

I gave out a whining low scream when I read it. It was from Elaine. It was unbelievable.

She was writing from her hospital bed. Doctors had discovered that her headaches weren't being caused by contraception or stress or any other easy explanation. They were being caused by a ruddy great tumour in her brain that had to be cut out straight away. As she was writing to me she was waiting for the operation. She was scared. She told me she didn't want to die.

She wasn't even 30.