I walk into it, and it’s like being swallowed up by a rainbow. Colourful dresses and tops with beads and glitter jump out at me, asking me to dance with them. My eyes are drawn to one in particular, because I recognize it. Mum’s Arabian-style mermaid dress. The one I found in her wardrobe, the one I saw her wear years ago. Only I never knew it was my grandmother’s. It glistens like hidden jewels in a treasure box, beckoning me.

‘We shouldn’t be in here!’ Rawan says nervously, before I have the chance to reach for it.

I whip my head round to look at her. Even though I know she can’t be talking to me, part of me wonders if she is. But then I see Aminah waltz into the wardrobe, and I know I’m still invisible.

‘Oh, calm down, Raw,’ Aminah says, rolling her eyes. ‘Mama’s out for the day with her sisters. She won’t be back for a while,’ she says resolutely. ‘And anyway, didn’t you say we needed costumes for the play?’

Rawan purses her lips. ‘Yes, but I didn’t think we were going to be stealing them . . . From what you told me, your mother sounds very scary. Not someone I want to mess with.’

Aminah ignores Rawan and starts sifting through Mama’s clothes instead. ‘There it is!’ she says, staring right at me for a moment. But then she puts her hands through me as she brandishes the mermaid dress. ‘Now, we just need to find you something . . .’

I watch Aminah as she talks to Rawan. The way she scrunches up her nose when she finds something funny; the way she waves her arms around excitedly as she talks; and the way she speaks with such confidence she could be telling you the grass is blue and the ocean purple, and you would believe her.

The two of them spend ages going through Mama’s clothes, chatting about the play, and trying to think up other locations for it. Then their conversation shifts a little.

‘What do you want to do with your life?’ Aminah asks Rawan.

Rawan turns to her, frowning. ‘That’s a serious question.’ Then she shrugs. ‘I don’t know. I like acting and directing. I’d love to carry on with the theatre.’

‘I want to go to England . . .’

Rawan glances sideways at Aminah. ‘I know, you said.’

‘No, I mean, I filled out my application and everything . . . They’ve . . . accepted it.’

Rawan’s jaw drops. ‘Um . . . congratulations! Why didn’t you say sooner?’

‘I only found out today!’

‘Wait . . . how did you get your mother to agree?’

‘She . . . hasn’t.’ Aminah looks sheepish.

‘But then how did you get permission for your application?’

‘My dad signed the forms when he came back for the weekend.’

‘So, you’re just going to . . . leave?’