I keep crying over random things. Like the other day I went to make a toastie, but we were out of Marmite, so I burst into tears. Dad rushed in and, as soon as he saw what was wrong, he went to the shop and bought three jars and an extra big tub of hot chocolate.

The girls have been messaging me non-stop, but I’ve been ignoring them. Then, Izzy sends me the most special message I’ve ever received.

Izzy: I know things are hard for you at the moment, but we just want you to know we’re here for you. You don’t have to talk about it or anything, but we thought you might like to see this . . .

I open the attachment and, as I look at what she’s sent, my heart stirs, like a bear on the first day of spring.

Staring at me, from my computer screen, is a drawing of Aminah. She’s dressed in a hybrid princess-pirate outfit, sword in hand. And she’s standing in front of the ruined house. A darkness, like tar, tries to reach for her. It looks like a shadow dragon barricading the door to stop her from going in, but she’s ready to fight. The two cats position themselves behind her, her accomplices, ready to help.

My eyes fill up with tears, happy tears. But they’re also sad, because it’s Mum.

Lady scratches at my bedroom door, whining for me to let her in because I accidentally locked her out. When I do she sniffs round my feet excitedly, like she can sense the change in me.

I suddenly have the urge to be closer to Mum. I’m not ready to visit her at the hospital again, but I have another place I can go. The place where this all started: Mum’s flat.

Fifteen minutes later I have my coat on and Lady is bouncing up and down next to me. ‘Going for a w-a-l-k,’ I say, peering into the living room, where Dad’s busy working. I have to spell the word because Lady understands when I say ‘walk’, but I’m pretty sure she knows how to spell since she’s now glued to my side, almost tripping me up whenever I try to move. There’s also the fact that I’m holding her lead, ready to clip it on to her. That might’ve given it away.

Dad looks up, his reading glasses magnifying his eyes. ‘With Lady?’

I nod. ‘I need the fresh air.’ I almost leave it at that, but I decide to tell him. ‘And I’m going to Mum’s flat.’

‘OK,’ Dad says, his eyes lingering on me as I turn on my heel. ‘Love you.’

I turn back. ‘Love you too,’ I say, because I don’t want to ever forget those words again.