Back in my apartment I finally confront what losing my job at Mattie’s means. Not only will I miss the friendships and the laughs, but also the money. How the hell will I pay my rent now? How to pay for that big glass wall that allows me spy on the world? I place my hand on the pane and look out at the darkening night. Shadows paint the buildings as couples walk hand in hand on the street below. In the distance I see the red coat chaperoned by a grey suit. Ms. Cannister and her date walk to the end of the street, then turn down Holden Street, which houses all the restaurants and bars, dreams and possibilities.

The silence is broken by the rumble the refrigerator makes every now and then. It’s beckoning to me from the corner of the kitchen but I know it’s just teasing, there is nothing inside. The only thing I ate today was a chunk of chocolate cake I couldn’t get into Mom’s mouth. Her eyes welcomed it but she’d forgotten how to open her lips.

In the cupboard I find a half eaten bag of Lay’s chips and sit on the sofa feeding myself, hoping to hear Jeff’s footsteps passing my door. I scrape the crumbs from the end of the bag then toss it in the trash before looking around the room that eight months earlier promised me a new life. A new beginning. It was supposed to be great; the new job at Bridgeway and King, the part-time job at Mattie’s, dreams of a love life. One by one it has all turned to shit, starting the day Katie Collins came to town.

Switching on the TV, I flick through the stations, but nothing holds my attention. Nothing is more engaging than my own disastrous life. So I turn it off and go to bed.

The following morning, I wake up, surprised that I have managed to complete a full night’s sleep. I remember it’s Sunday, ‘let’s play happy families’ day. Pulling the duvet around me, I close my eyes. I don’t want to be awake, don’t want to face the music.

After sleeping for another few hours I pull myself out of the bed and take a shower. I have to be at Dad’s in an hour.

Bert’s front door is open when I arrive outside Dad’s so I walk over and tap on the door.

‘You in here, Bert?’ I say.

Bert sticks his head out from a door halfway down the hall.

‘Becca,’ he says. ‘Come in.’

Before entering I glance across the street. Danny and Joanna haven’t arrived yet and Dad’s house looks empty. Hoping I haven’t come all the way out here for nothing, I check my phone to make sure I haven’t missed a message from them. I haven’t.