“When were they coming again?” Mo asks, fluffing some cushions on the sofa.

“About 11 ish, so about now” Emily replies, making her way to the window, playfully tossing a cushion onto the floor as she passes and kissing Mo on the forehead.

Mo still feels the need to impress Emily's parents even though over 4 years has passed since the pair were married.

“Ooh look at that my sixth sense, they’re here”. Emily says from the window.

“Well kind of just like a fifth now”

“WOW.” Laughing, Emily threatens to mess up all the cushions, but just as she makes a move the doorbell rings.

Emily's parents (Carol and Gareth) don’t live that far away but rarely visit the house, instead preferring cafes, or restaurants to socialise in. What brings them here today is one reason only: Emily's recent diagnosis.

“Hello!” Mo half shouts as Emily opens the door.

“Goodness, yes hello Mo, Emily darling you would not believe the imbecilic people on the road nowadays. That’s the problem with getting your licence online you know. It’s not a real degree.”

“That’s not how it works…” Emily trails off, interrupted by her father stepping through the door,

“Hello darling, how are you, good to see you.” He says, leaning in for a hug.

“I’m good thanks dad yeah”.

“Well, I mean of course you’re not ‘good’ what with this awful business of The Diagnosis, but you know”.

“No, no, I am genuinely good.” Emily is once again spoken over by her father and mother simultaneously.

“Mo, good to see you” Gareth offers a firm handshake to Mo as he follows his wife into the living room.

“Oh Emily, it’s just wonderful what you’ve done with the place- It’s just so You.”

“It’s actually Mo who does most of the décor, I’m more of the shelf builder”.

“Oh, well, still, lovely.”

Mo and Emily exchange a look.

“Would you like a cup of tea or anything?” Mo says, inching their way to the kitchen.

“Ooh yes after that journey I need something, get me a G & T would you Mo” Emily's mother jokes, “No, green tea’ll be fine, thank you.”

“Coffee for me- the driver. Thank you, Mo”.

“Coffee and green tea, Em?”

“Coffee as well please”

“Are you sure you should be having hot drinks Emily?” Carol, now seated, leans forward concerned.

“What do you mean?” Emily responds, confused.

“Well, what with your condition and all, how are you to know if something is too hot or not.”

“Just because I can’t feel things through my hands doesn’t mean I’m going to stick my hand in the mug mum- I have the common sense to know this doesn’t mean I’m burn proof.”

“I didn’t say you were stupid Emily. I just don’t want your hands to blister because you don’t realise you’re not holding the handle- you know because we do sometimes hold mugs with both hands, I’m right Gareth, aren’t I?”

“Yes, your mother’s just concerned for you poppet”.

“I’ll be careful.” Emily replies, slightly annoyed.

“It might be an idea to wear gloves, you know Deborah was telling me about her new oven mittens and they’re very good- and slim as well so you could still hold things. I wrote down the name o-“

“Mum I’ll be fine honestly, I remember how long my hands can hold onto hot things before pain, I don’t need to feel it.”

“Or Mo could do the cooking and things instead, Mo made a lovely lasagne that time, you like cooking don’t you Mo?” Carol raises her voice so Mo can hear from the kitchen.

“Erm, I don’t mind it yeah.” Mo brings out the drinks and takes a seat next to Emily, putting a hand on their knee.

“We’ll take turns cooking like we always have, nothing needs to change,” Emily explains.

“But things have changed darling- who knows how far this may spread.”

“There’s no reason to doubt the doctor, and we’ve done our own research as-

“The internet, Emily you can’t trust that.”

“They’re scientific journals mum, just because- ugh- Look. At the very most I will lose feeling in my forearms, and maybe my feet. But nothing more. There’s a good chance it’ll only be my hands that don’t feel.”

Mo makes more of an effort to calm Emily by stroking their knee.

Carol seems offended and upset, while Gareth chooses to sip his coffee and admire the surrounding décor.

“What do you feel right now mum?”

“What?”

“Close your eyes and tell me what you feel.”

“Emily,”

“Mum please just do it”.

Carol sighs before closing her eyes, she shrugs and proceeds to list what she can sense,

“I feel my hands holding my hot cup…I feel my feet on the ground, my legs on the sofa…” She opens her eyes and shrugs as if saying, ‘what do you want from me?’

Emily takes a breath, looking at her parents.

“I can feel the hand of my partner on my knee. I can feel their forehead when I kiss them, I could feel dad’s heartbeat when we hugged. And I can feel your pity. But just as I don’t need to feel my fingertips, I don’t need your pity mother. I will manage just fine with all the senses I still have.”