‘Of course not!’ The pair stop searching for clothes now and settle cross-legged on the floor. ‘I will tell her, just not . . . yet.’ Aminah sighs. ‘She’s so hard to talk to. And she has these ideas about how she wants me to act, what she wants me to do. I just don’t . . .’

‘Want to?’ Rawan finishes the sentence for her.

‘Exactly.’ Aminah nods. ‘She wants me to do what everyone else does, but I just want to try something different. Sounds stupid, doesn’t it?’

Rawan shakes her head. ‘No, it doesn’t. Why else do you think I’m running a secret theatre in a hidden alleyway? Still, you need to tell her . . . She’s your mum.’

Aminah shrugs defiantly. ‘So what? It’s not like we have anything in common. Sometimes I think we may as well be strangers . . .’

And, before I can hear the rest of the conversation, or watch Aminah and Rawan finish searching for their costumes, I’m pulled out of the wardrobe, out of the memory, and back to the hospital. But it’s OK because I have everything I need to find the next object.

I lean in and kiss Mum goodnight. I drink in the smell of her perfume, and imagine what it’s going to be like to speak to her again.

Chapter 27

We’re at Gini’s house today watching a Studio Ghibli film. Charlotte was right, Gini’s film projector is way cool. She has her very own games room the size of our entire living room at home – just for her!

This time we found a film we can all agree on: Spirited Away. We’re snacking on popcorn and hot chocolate while we watch.

It’s nice to have something good in my life, something that isn’t about hospital visits and monitors and daily updates.

Right after I saw the last memory, I went and got the mermaid dress from Mum’s flat and put it in the memory box. It’s getting pretty full now. I wonder if I’m close to the end of the memories, and finally unlocking Mum’s door?

I’m going to stop by the hospital on the way home. I haven’t got any time to lose, especially as the walls from the house are cracking again. I don’t really understand why, though. Mum’s getting better, so shouldn’t the house look new? I thought it was fixed again because I was saving her.

After the film Charlotte and Gini turn to Izzy and me, looking a little nervous.

‘What?’ Izzy asks. ‘Is this when you team up and murder me and Saff?’

I can’t help but think of Aminah’s comment to Rawan when she asked her to join the theatre group.

Charlotte and Gini glance at one another, and Izzy sits up, sliding away from them, spilling popcorn everywhere. ‘It is?’ Izzy turns to me, wide-eyed.