He reaches out and brushes my still-healing lip, making me wince.

‘Sorry. Did Dan do this?’

I can’t look at him, or answer. And I can’t tell him to move. I am stuck between a Miller and a water fountain.

‘So yes. Did he hurt anything else?’

The fear in his voice forces me to look up. I shake my head, making sure I hold his eyes. A rush of breath leaves him and fans over my face. It smells like mints.

‘Whatever happened, Tace, it’s not your fault.’

‘Course it’s her fault,’ May’s voice comes from behind him.

‘Aunty!’ Sam is so shocked he takes a step back so me and the old girl are looking right at each other.

‘It’s your fault he got taken cos ya put that necklace on im, didn’t ya?’

I flinch, and May steps closer.

‘It’s your fault cos ya chose to save ya sister and yaself.’

Flinch. Step.

‘It’s your fault cos he followed ya into that place.’

Flinch. Step.

‘It’s your fault cos he was gonna hurt you and instead e got hurt. And part of you is glad it was im and not you.’

Tears flow down my face and it feels like she’s flogging into me with each accusation. Everything I’ve told myself comes out of her mouth.

‘It’s your fault ya didn’t die there, too,’ she whispers into my face.

I start to sob uncontrollably and she bundles me in close, holding tight till the storm is over. When I’m calm she pulls back, smoothing her calloused hands down from my forehead to my chin, brushing tears away as she goes. She cups my jaw and looks deep into my eyes. Only Nan has ever done that.

‘Ya gotta stop torturin yaself. He made is choices and you made yours. Some ya can blame yaself for, but others are all on him. And, bub, I’m so glad you’re here.’

Her sincerity touches me deep, in that infected place where I hold Dan’s cries for help and the sounds of his horrifying death. They’ll never find him inside that cave, and racist or not, no one deserves to die like that. Or to be left wondering what happened to their son.

The entire time May watches me, following all the thoughts that cross my face. She seems satisfied by whatever she sees because she kisses me softly on the cheek and lets go of my jaw.

‘Good girl. I gotta get goin. When your sister is out you come see me and we’ll ave a nice cuppa and a yarn.’

I smile for the first time in days.

Order given, May struts down the hall towards the exit. Sam stops beside me for a moment and smiles.

‘See you soon, Tace,’ he promises before following his aunt.