Jay is devastated to discover that Lola has already gone (Picture: BBC)
We’ve officially used up the last of our tissues after tonight’s (May 31) heart breaking EastEnders episode, which saw Lola Pearce (Danielle Harold) tragically pass away from a brain tumour.
Lola’s family were aware that the end was growing near, with Lola unable to remain conscious for more than a couple of minutes at a time. With her friends having already said their goodbyes, the family gathered at No. 18 as the clocked ticked down to Lola’s final moments.
While the atmosphere was fraught to begin with, thanks to Ben Mitchell’s (Max Bowden) absence, Lola’s loved ones soon put their disagreements aside as Kathy (Gillian Taylforth), Callum (Tony Clay) and Phil (Steve McFadden) gathered at Lola’s bedside.
Callum promised to take care of Lexi (Isabella Brown) before the grief became too much, and he ended up leaving.
Kathy grew upset as Phil brought up the topic of Lola’s funeral, offering to cover all of the costs so that Billy (Perry Fenwick) and Jay (Jamie Borthwick) had one less thing to worry about.
However, Phil found himself unable to say goodbye to Lola, leaving without a word when Lexi asked where he was going.
With everyone having headed back home, Honey (Emma Barton) took her turn to say goodbye, revealing what an honour it had been to be her friend.
As Jay remained sitting by his wife’s bedside, he became frustrated with Lexi playing music and wanting to paint her mum’s fingernails. However, it wasn’t long before he realised that this was her way of wanting to say goodbye, and left the pair of them alone.
When he returned, Lexi returned the favour, telling him it was his turn to be alone with Lola.
Devastated Jay revealed to unconscious Lola that he couldn’t say goodbye, as she would always be with him.
Having spent the whole night by her side, waiting for her tragic final moments, Jay headed off to the bathroom for just a couple of minutes, leaving Lexi asleep next to her mum.
Lola’s family gathered to say their goodbyes (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)
When he returned, he made the heart breaking discovery that she had died in the short time he was away from her.
As he broke down, apologising profusely for not being there when the moment came, Lexi woke up and explained that Lola had done it on purpose, for them.
Jay settled himself on the bed beside them as the episode came to a close, leaving us all in bits as EastEnders closed the doors on one of Walford’s best loved characters.
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We’ve run out of tissues.
