‘You can’t imagine how much I want you,’ she says. ‘I’m gonna take you somewhere you’ve never even dreamed about.’

I want to look at her, to see her complete form. I want to talk to her while nothing in the world is deeper or more alive than her eyes. I want to converse like we once did, to free-associate, to replace this one topic with a million. I want to hold her, feel the heat of her neck rising into mine. One more hour and I can do all those things.

‘How do I get them back in the classroom?’ The question is to myself as much as to her.

‘Think, Ollie. You can do it. You know how brilliant you are.’

Mr Clark is the key. But he’d need a reason. I’ve been away from the rest of the class, but no one knows I’ve left the grounds. I could be anywhere. Perhaps I’ve been to the toilet. What’s it been – fifteen minutes? My guts have been very publicly playing up. It’s feasible. I could’ve run into anyone. Another teacher? Better still a head teacher. Silver Foxton. He might have given me a message to pass on.

‘You’ve got it, haven’t you?’ she says. This is Sophia – she just knows. I don’t need to tell her. ‘You’re so good, Ollie.’ I catch sight of a corner of her grin.

‘Maybe I can do this.’

‘You won’t be beaten.’

I will not. I’ve been such an idiot. But I’m back. The future has become the now, and I am exactly who I must be. The dream, the freedom, I can see them again. They exist on the other side of the next hour. An hour that is just one last small hurdle – nothing in comparison to the promise of what will follow.

Every muscle tightens. I’m ready for this. How dare they hold me down? How did I let them control me like this? How did I let them get inside me and control my thoughts? They are evil and they must pay. This is the right thing. I’ve known it all along and my weakness will not be the epitaph to everyone I love.

I stand and feel the surge of adrenaline.

‘I love you so much,’ Sophia’s voice says – delicate and dreamy – from somewhere in the undergrowth.

I turn towards the hole in the fence. I am certain. It’s the last time I’ll ever need to be certain.

This is happening.

Ollie Morcombe’s Little Stunt

Two months ago