They cut round the top of the Links to Marchmont then onto Melville Drive. The sun was still high this early in autumn, and the light through the chestnut trees strobed across her eyes. She looked at Indy’s face as it dappled between light and shade. In fourth year at school Hannah briefly dated an epileptic boy who had to cross the road when low sunlight flickered through railings. She wondered about that loss of control, reactions in the brain 16making you who you are. Depression, anxiety, love, hate, anger. She thought about neurons firing, particles shifting state, quarks changing their distributions.

She caught the smell of charcoal and burgers from barbecues across the road. The Meadows were full of students exploiting the last warm days before the country shut down for winter. Frisbees, football, in the distance some girls playing quidditch. Harry Potter was before her time, she preferred The Hunger Games, stronger women for a start. But you couldn’t exactly play Hunger Games in the park.

They reached the flat and bounded up to the top floor. Indy opened the door and they fell inside. Hannah worried that she was supposed to feel down because of Grandpa, but she felt full of possibility. Jim wouldn’t want her to mope around, even though she missed him. And maybe Dorothy was right, maybe death makes you horny.

She grabbed Indy’s waist and spun her round, kissed her, stared at those brown eyes. ‘Love you, babes.’

Indy looked at her sideways. ‘What’s got into you?’

Hannah kissed her again, long and deep, eased her against the wall.

Indy pulled back. ‘Just a minute.’ She called out. ‘Mel?’

They waited for a reply.

‘She must still be at King’s Buildings,’ Hannah said. Though she knew lectures were over for the day, and it wasn’t like Mel to head to the pub afterwards, like some of their classmates. Hannah had skipped lectures on special relativity and quantum field theory this afternoon, Mel saying she would let her know if she missed anything.

Hannah went to kiss Indy again and Indy responded, then a phone rang. It came from Mel’s room.

‘Leave it,’ Indy said, her hand on Hannah’s back.

Hannah frowned. Classes were over. Mel was super-reliable and organised, and never went anywhere without her phone.

Hannah unpeeled herself from Indy and went to Mel’s door, 17knocked twice. Waited. The phone kept ringing. She pushed the door open. Everything seemed normal, the single bed made, the desk neat with piles of notes and textbooks, Mel’s photo montage on the wall, pictures of her with friends and family.

The phone was on the desk, still ringing.

‘Mum’ flashed on the screen.

Hannah felt Indy at the doorway behind her as she picked up the phone and answered.

‘Hi, Mrs C, Hannah here.’