I just need him to be okay.

No one’s telling me anything.

All I get is questions.

SOMEONE GLUES UP my hand. She seems nice enough. She keeps offering me something for the pain, but I don’t feel anything.

LETTIE TRIES TO pick me up from the hospital. She’s not meant to. She’s not a relative. She lives next door.

Where’s your mother?

I don’t answer.

SHE WANTS TO take me home. They won’t let her. They’re arguing. Lettie keeps plucking at the skin on her hands and looking at me, and they’re speaking to her like she’s a criminal.

“Where’s her mother?”

“Away overnight. On business.” She’s using her do as I say voice but it doesn’t work on them.

“Are you looking after her?”

She hesitates. Looks at me again. “Yes.”

“What was she doing out on her own at two in the morning?”

“Well, I—”

“It’s not Lettie’s fault.”

They all stop. It’s the only thing I’ve said since I gave them Lettie’s address.

“It’s not her fault. She didn’t know.”

“If she’s looking after you, she should.”

“She’s not looking after me. She’s been looking out for me. Because she’s kind.” I wipe at my eyes. I can’t look at her. I look at the tissues in my good hand. I still have Splinter’s blood under my fingernails. “But she wasn’t looking after me because she didn’t know. I haven’t told anyone.”

They all go very still at that.

“Haven’t told anyone what?”

Lettie clears her throat. “Her mum sometimes leaves, overnight, I suspect. So I’ve been keeping an eye out—”

“She hasn’t left.”

Lettie looks sad. “Away for work, then.”

“Not that either.”

“Where is she, then?” They’re trying to be kind. But they’re tired, and fed up with this kid who won’t talk except to ask about her dog.

“She’s at home.”

Lettie’s voice’s gentle. “Come on, Rae, you have to tell them the truth now.”

“I am. She’s at home. She never left.”

“Rae.”

“She is.” I look at Lettie, really look at her. “She’s in the shed.”

“Rae, don’t be ridiculous.”

I don’t take my eyes off Lettie as I speak. “I left her there. I didn’t know what else to do. So I left her there.”

I see Lettie get it.

“Oh. Rae.”

I can’t seem to stop swallowing. She steps toward me. “Oh, Rae. Kiddo.”

And then she has her arms around me. And she’s still in your tracksuit, and she smells like you. And her. And Splinter. And it’s the first time anyone’s touched me properly since you died.

I let my head sink into her. Into Splinter. Into you.