‘Why aren’t you—? Oh.’ Before, when one of us needed to use the bucket, the other had headed for the furthest corner in the opposite direction. But Troy and his messed-up ankle were going nowhere. Having to announce when we wanted to pee or more was mortifying, but it couldn’t be helped. It wasn’t as if we hadn’t used the bucket before, but my shyness about it hadn’t faded, not even a little.

I headed towards the corner of the room where the bucket sat. The smell as I got closer grew more pungent. A few more hours and the stench would fill the entire room. Hmm … OK, so we were both going to choke to death on noxious fumes before we died of thirst. So many varied ways to perish down here.

‘Troy, you should try to get some sleep yourself,’ I said.

‘Yeah, I think I might,’ he said. ‘I just didn’t want to risk falling asleep with you leaning on me in case we both fell backwards off the crate.’

‘Thanks!’

‘You’re welcome.’

I peed in the bucket, then dried myself off, using one of the last two remaining tissues I had in my trouser pocket. I didn’t even want to think about what we’d do after I ran out. All I wanted now was a hot shower and a warm bed and to sleep for a week. But, failing that, I’d settle for what I could get. Even though Troy had turned his face away from my corner, in this sickly half-light I could see by his slumped shoulders and bowed head just how exhausted he was.

‘I’m finished,’ I announced as if he didn’t already know.

‘Don’t forget to wash your hands – with soap,’ said Troy. ‘Don’t slack.’

‘Yeah, I’ll get right on that.’

‘My turn,’ Troy announced. ‘But I’ll need your help to get there.’

With his arm round my shoulder and some, if not most, of his weight resting on me, we made our slow, painful way to the bucket.

Halfway there and Troy wasn’t doing too well. Beads of sweat punctuated his brow like full stops. I asked, ‘Troy, d’you mind if I watch?’

He stared at me, shock shaping every muscle in his face. ‘What?’

‘D’you mind if I watch?’ I asked as we carried on moving.

‘Of course I bloody mind! Since when was peeing a spectator sport?’ Troy’s eyebrows were fast forming a knot.

‘It would take our relationship to the next level,’ I said.

‘What next level? What relationship? Are you high on pee fumes or something?’

We were at the bucket.

‘Gotcha!’ I winked.

Troy’s mouth fell open, then he reluctantly smiled. ‘Yeah, OK. Payback for I spy earlier?’

I nodded gleefully. ‘Plus it took your mind off your ankle.’

‘You think you’re slick, don’t you?!’