Maddy wipes at her tears with the cuff of her coat. ‘At least it’s something. It’s so good to know he might be nearby. To know that he’s …’ her voice cracks … ‘well, that he’s alive. That he might be here.’

‘You thought he might not be?’

‘I’ve imagined every scenario. I feel so shit about the whole thing, Tor. I should have … I don’t know. I should have done it all differently.’ She can’t stop the tears.

‘You shouldn’t blame yourself.’ Tor feels genuinely sorry for her.

‘But I do. Because it’s my fault. That’s the thing when you’re young: you think you’ll have all the answers by the time you’re old, but you still manage to fuck things up. I just want the chance to put things right with him. That’s all.’

‘We’ll find him.’ Tor tries to sound reassuring, but she knows how homeless people become invisible in every way. That’s the thing that gets to people most – the way they’re ignored and treated as if they literally don’t exist. She’s witnessed the humiliation and hurt of the young rough sleepers on West Street after the gangs of drunk lads on a stag party took a piss on them.

Tor isn’t religious, but she can’t help feeling that as a society in general, everyone has gone seriously up the wrong path. Because where has all the kindness and compassion gone? Why has it been replaced by suspicion and fear? Everyone is human, after all. Ultimately, everyone is in the same boat. Hasn’t the pandemic taught everyone that?

The usual rush of regulars come and Tor is happy to check-in on them and she can see Maddy has recovered a bit and is chatting to them too.

All of the food has gone in less than half an hour and Tor starts stacking the empty crates.

She smiles at Maddy. ‘You were great. Thanks for coming. I really needed the extra pair of hands.’

‘You know, I can’t believe that a month ago all I thought about was perfecting a perfect Instagram post and now I’m here,’ she says, with a little shake of her head.

‘Yeah, well, I need all the help I can get. It’s going to get worse. Even more people are going to start falling through the cracks. What we’re doing here is just a drop in the ocean.’

‘But at least you’re doing something. Seriously, Tor, I have to say it … to have organised all this … to help people the way you do, it’s very inspiring. Your parents must be so proud.’

‘I wouldn’t say they’re proud.’

‘They must be, surely?’

‘I have a twin sister, Alice. She’s the golden child. The favourite,’ Tor explains, noticing Maddy pausing as she packs up the boxes. ‘I wish my mum was like you. She’s sweet, but she doesn’t notice me. It’s all about Alice.’

Maddy shakes her head. ‘I’m sure that’s not true.’

‘You don’t know my family. And they really don’t know me. They have no idea that me and my girlfriend, Lotte, live together. That we’re, you know …’ Tor shakes her head. Why is it so easy to talk to Maddy and yet she still can’t say the words?