Emily trails after her outside, face tipped up expectantly. Maddy pours Emily a glass of water and hands it to her. She pats the space next to her on the bench. How is she going to do this? She bows her head. Her eyes and cheeks are so sore and puffy. Surely there are no more tears to shed. But her eyes fill up again as she tries to find the right words. ‘Sweetheart, you know Daddy and I love you very much, don’t you?’ Emily nods. ‘I don’t really know how to say this.’

Emily stops, water puffs out her cheeks. She swallows it in one gulp and coughs, spluttering droplets on her skirt. Maddy reaches over and slaps her on the back.

‘Are you okay?’

Emily nods, eyes bulging.

‘Please don’t do that.’ She stares into Emily’s eyes and watches her closely. ‘They still haven’t found Daddy.’ No reaction. Her words sound distant; she hardly believes it herself.

Emily lengthens her back until she’s sitting upright. Her hands clasp the glass a little tighter; the frosted pattern makes it look shattered. Did she understand? She strokes Emily’s hands. Her head throbs. Can this really be happening? Emily presses her lips with the back of her hand as if to seal them shut forever.

‘I’m so sorry, sweetheart. They’re doing all they can.’

Emily’s eyelids flicker; her eyes roll back in her head as she tips sideways off the seat. Maddy leaps forward to catch her, just managing to slide between Emily and the ground in time. She cradles her daughter’s head in her lap, the breathing is shallow, limbs locked, body juddering. The small stiff frame twists, head thrashing from side to side like she’s trapped in a nightmare.

When Emily’s body is still again, her eyes flutter open. A silver thread of moisture hangs from the corner of her mouth. Maddy rocks Emily gently, humming a tune, like the time she held her as a baby, wrapped in a towel, face and limbs blue, keeping her warm, holding her tight.

At last the grey, sometimes moss green eyes look up at Maddy, but there’s no expression. They could be the glassy eyes of a doll, with eyelids that open when tipped back.

Gradually Emily recovers, tries to sit up, but Maddy gently says, ‘Sssh’, and holds her around the shoulders like a blanket, kissing her temples, still rocking, still humming, smoothing the glossy hair, noticing the eyes begin to recognise her as she watches her daughter come back to life.