‘But if I’d known it would end so soon I would have seen you every single day. I’d have broken into the building to see you on Sundays too.’

‘I know. I know you would, and knowing is enough. Thank you, Ariel. You’re the best person I’ve ever known.’

‘If you go somewhere then … wait for me.’

‘I will.’ He looked into my eyes and I knew he would do it. I loved him with every part of my being. ‘I’ll wait for you. I promise. Whatever happens next, and whenever you get there, which I hope won’t be for a very, very long time, I’ll be there for you. This isn’t the end. It can’t be because we’ve proved that there’s life after death. This won’t be it. So you just need to live. Be happy. Do it for me. Live the best life you can. Experience everything. It’s not goodbye forever. It’s not.’

‘Find my mum. Tell her we miss her every moment, but we’re OK. Tell her about Raffy.’

‘I promise.’ I shivered as Joe stepped right into me, so our entire bodies were overlapping.

Then Troy was back in the room, and Piet was behind him, huffing and frowning.

‘Oh, what the bloody hell have you done?’ he said, looking at the wall. He glared at me. I shifted to the opposite corner of the room, but it was so small that we were all on top of each other. Joe came with me. I felt the tingle he always gave me. I loved this feeling. It used to freak me out, but now I longed to keep it in my life.

Troy gave us a little smile and I thought I should give him and Joe a moment together, that they needed to say goodbye too.

‘Taken the whole wall off? What the heck?’ said Piet. ‘I know this is the kind of thing she’d do.’ He nodded at me. ‘She’s like a dog with a bone. But you’re a grown man with a family.’ He shook his head. ‘Let’s have a look.’

It changed fast after that. There were bones in there, and we all knew they were Joe’s. Piet went off to fetch someone. There was a sense of urgency in the air. It was nearly time for Joe to go, and we knew that he was leaving for the last time.

‘I’ll step outside,’ I said. ‘I’ll let you two have a moment together.’

‘Don’t go,’ Joe said at once, and Troy said, ‘There’s no need, Ariel.’

‘Sure?’

‘Stay,’ said Joe. ‘I’ve only got a few minutes. I need you.’

‘Yeah,’ said Troy. ‘Stay.’

We sat there together.

‘I’m glad it wasn’t you,’ Joe said to Troy.

‘Me too,’ said Troy.