Proof positive that I’m complete poison. Toxic. Unlovable. I always knew it, so why did it feel like an ice-cream scoop had taken a massive chunk out of my heart? Why should I even care what happens to either of them? What good did it do to care about anyone? Seventeen years on the planet and I still didn’t have an answer to that one – because there was no adequate answer. Using the back of my hand, I dashed away the unwelcome tears trickling down my cheeks.

‘Libby, what your mum did, that’s on her, not you.’ Troy’s voice came from far away, even though he was sitting right next to me. I hadn’t even noticed that he’d woken up. I turned to face him, concentrating on his face, his mouth. What was he saying?

‘Libby, this is not your fault.’

‘I know.’

‘Do you though?’

Troy’s eyebrows were drawn together over dark brown eyes which held concern and … sympathy. I couldn’t bear it. I didn’t want or need his pity.

I sat up straighter, glaring at him. ‘Troy, I’m a survivor. I’ll live.’

‘We both will,’ Troy replied pointedly. ‘Remember that.’

I got the message. I’m not sure I believed it, but I got it. We sat in empty silence for a long while, neither of us speaking or moving. ‘What time d’you think it is?’ I asked at last.

Troy shrugged.

‘How long d’you think we’ve been down here?’

‘Rephrasing the question isn’t gonna get you a fresh answer. Still no clue,’ said Troy. ‘And, for God’s sake, stop scratching your arm.’

Surprised, I glanced down. I’d been rasping my lower forearm with my nails and I hadn’t even realized.

My face reddening, I immediately stopped. ‘There’s not a lot else to do,’ I said flippantly.

‘Find something,’ snapped Troy. ‘Libby, I can’t keep sheepdogging you away from sharp edges.’

‘Who asked you to sheepdog me? I certainly didn’t.’

‘Yeah, but, as I said before, when you get gangrene, that’ll be just one more thing on my plate.’

‘Wow! You’re all heart.’ I scowled at Troy who scowled right back at me.

‘I get it, Liberty. OK? You just lost your mum, and her boyfriend was a lowlife. You’re stuck down here with no way out. But, if you could spare – oh, I dunno – maybe one thought for the fact that I’m down here with you, I’d appreciate it,’ said Troy.

‘You think I don’t know that?’

‘No, all you’re thinking about is how me being stuck down here is making you feel. You feel guilty. It’s all about you. Once in a while, why don’t you just think about how others might be feeling? Try that one on for size.’

‘Screw you, Troy.’

‘Screw you right back, Liberty.’