Tiny rivulets of sweat ran down the furrows in her brow.  She gritted her teeth, clenched the banister and slowly stumbled down the stairs.  The reflection of the haggard, withdrawn face in the hallway mirror shocked Annie. 

Her hair was wild, knotted and sticking out in all directions.  Sallow skin hung off sharp, angular bones.  Dull eyes in sunken sockets complimented dry, cracked lips.  She decided she looked as bad as she felt.  Annie staggered into the lounge and lowered herself into the over-stuffed easy chair.  

The smoking cessation officer's voice rang in her head.  Laura, that was her name.  She had sat in an office whilst Laura had bombarded her with information about coping strategies and mechanisms, quitting aids and support groups.  Annie didn't really listen to what the officer was saying.  She was still distracted by the fact that Laura's job was to advise people on how to stop smoking.  Annie heard the last comment she made though, loud and clear.

"This is going to be the hardest thing you will ever do."

A little smile had spread across Annie's lips.  Stopping smoking wasn't hard.  Coming home from a night shift at the hospital and finding your house ablaze was hard.  Burying your husband and only child on the same day was hard.  Waking up alone and surviving day-to-day was hard.  Annie didn't say any of this, of course.  She had taken all the leaflets Laura had given her, thanked her for the advice and left.

Shooting pains spread out from Annie's chest and down both arms.  The first ache had surfaced the day after her last cigarette.  That was a few days ago now and it was getting gradually more intense.  Her breath came in shallow gasps.  She leaned back into the fluffy cushions and let the pain wash over her in waves.   

Printed words from the health education pamphlets swam before her eyes.  Could experience tightening of the chest, shortness of breath, irritability, weight gain.  Annie knew this wasn't just the side effect of kicking the habit.  Something was seriously wrong.

Jumbled thoughts ran around Annie's mind.  She needed to phone the doctor or the ambulance and get help.  Where was the telephone?  She couldn't remember.  The pain was subsiding and was being replaced with a hazy light-headedness.  A loud ringing blasted through her ears.  She shook her head from side to side to get rid of the annoying noise.   

The buzzing continued.  It seemed to come from the arm of the easy chair.  Annie slid her hand down the side of the chair and grabbed the vibrating object.  She pulled the mobile out from behind the cushions.  It took Annie all of her remaining strength to bring the receiver up to her ear.

"Annie darling, it's George.  You didn't think I'd let you do this on your own did you?  You've not to be frightened.  Just close your eyes and listen to me.  We've missed you so much.  Sally's here.  She's desperate to see you.  Don't worry, not long now and we'll be back together again.  Shall I sing for you?  You are my sunshine, my only sunshine..."