She looks into my eyes. ‘Yes. Sasha could never do anything right as far as he was concerned. He was always making sure she knew he was disappointed, whatever she did. And he was mean to Mum. He always shouted at her that we needed to move out of this dead-end town, that she’d forced him to live a small life in a crap place.’

She reads my unspoken question and answers it. ‘He was never violent. Not exactly. He would punch the walls, or smash things, right next to Sasha or Mum, but he didn’t hit them.’

‘Still sounds violent.’

‘He did the same thing to me, just before he left. I said I wasn’t going, and he punched the bed and then the wall. I’m almost glad, you know? I felt bad when he was treating me differently. It was uncomfortable. He’d take me to the arcade, but if Sasha wanted to come he’d say things like, “No, this one’s just me and Ariel.” He’d often come home with little presents for me, but not for her. I was never in trouble, but she’d be pulled up on every little thing. I was his golden child and I hated it. I knew it wasn’t because he liked me. I was just a way for him to get at Sasha.’

‘That must have been weird.’

She shrugs. ‘I guess it came to a head when he tried to get me to creep out of the house with him to go to Scotland, and when I said no he turned against me too. It’s a relief, in a way, but a bigger relief for Sasha. I thought it might be awkward as we’d always been treated so differently, but she’s full of Mum’s kindness. If it was me who’d told him I was pregnant, and planning to have the baby, he might have got on board with it. Because it was Sasha, he ignored her for a bit and then ran away. It was when she found out she was having a boy. Maybe that made it more real to him?’

‘Bastard.’

‘Right?’ Ariel sighs. ‘I wish I could step into your time.’ She looks at the door. ‘The idea that Mum is there is such a headfuck.’

‘Do you still see the 1999 people at school?’

‘Yeah, they’re still around, but they don’t bother me any more. They’re a part of you, in a way. I like to think of the colour blue and watch a room light up. I look for you, you know. I’ll keep looking. They used to terrify me. Now I’m just pleased to know that I’m seeing your friends.’ She stops and frowns. ‘I’m going to try to talk to them again actually. You never know. That might really help.’