Like I say, I find it hard to put things into words sometimes. And it’s a hell of a lot harder when you’re talking to a pixelated phone screen, and the signal keeps dropping, and you keep missing vital bits of conversation. But I truly hope she knows all of the above to be true.

The coronavirus pandemic is terrible for so many reasons. I’m not here to pretend that I’ve had it any harder than most: so many people missed out on seeing their mums this weekend, lots of us can’t hug friends and family, some of us have permanently lost loved ones to this virus. But being denied the chance to say do a farewell celebration for one of my most important people? Well, it ranks pretty highly up there on my Covid-19 shit list.

I hope that, one day not too far from now, all of this will be a distant memory. All that being said, though, I hope I remember the lessons I learned during this time. That I’ll make time to see the people I love whenever I can, and appreciate the hell out of them always. That it won’t take a ‘special occasion’ for me to be a better friend. That I won’t, above all else, flake on plans and rearrange for the following week.

Because, just sometimes, that “following week” won’t be there to fall back on.

Coronavirus in the UK: “Covid-19 meant my friend had to leave the country without a goodbye”