There was very little room in our crammed dormitory. My own bed was second from the window, next to that of JM. JG and NF were at the other end of the room, by the door. Between us were four or five strangers, unknown to us before our arrival in Nantes.

I lost my printed timetable so it was useful to have JF and NF there to keep me on track for turning up to classes. However, I had lost interest somewhat since TPR had confessed to a string of affairs. He announced that now that Christmas with our families was out of the way, the time had come for him to leave me.

I was devastated. Whatever would his mother think? I kept his departure secret for weeks until I finally confided in JG and NF, both of whom were astonished at the news. (I wanted to tell JM, but he was too busy with his own complex love life.)