‘Mum aside, there’s a whole world of … How can I be a teacher? As soon as the school searches my name, it’s over.’ Looking at Will now. ‘And if I did manage to get a job, and one of the kids in my class googles me! Can you imagine? God! Not to mention when I have kids myself. Not that I’ll ever get to that point. Blokes google before they go out with someone, right? Good luck ever having a date with someone who hasn’t already seen all my bits! It just goes on and on. I’ll always be her now. The girl in the video. The dumb whore who—’

‘Stop it!’ Aunty Nic’s voice like a whip, cracking through the rising panic. ‘He’s ruined, the kind of person who could do something like that. Only him.’ Nic pulled herself upright, closed her eyes for a second. She was in pain and they should leave her alone, but before Will could intervene she went on. ‘Listen to me: when we’re out together, having lunch, I can’t believe everyone in the place isn’t staring, pointing, asking for pictures. I want to call out, tell all these clueless people what they’re missing. Boast that I’m your aunty, actually related to this extraordinary creature. I can hardly stand it that they’re all sitting there oblivious, like they’re eating alongside just anyone, when there you are: Lena! You’re magnificent! And to think that this, this, this boy has treated you like you’re some ordinary—no, worse than that! An ordinary girl shouldn’t be treated like this either. No one should. He’s treated you like you’re not real. Like you’re a thing. But, my god, the thought that someone like him could ruin you even if he tried his very, very hardest is ridiculous. Can a mosquito ruin a dragon? Never! It’s an irritant. That’s all, Lena. That’s all.’

Lena’s face streamed with tears, but she made no sound. Will felt his heart would never stop breaking. He wanted nothing so much as to climb onto the bed and snuggle under Aunty Nic’s arm like when he was little. Feel the solid, pure certainty of her love. But even if he wasn’t a grown adult man he couldn’t do it. She was breathing heavily after her outburst. What he needed to do was calm things down, let her rest.

‘Aunty Nic’s right, Leen. It’s going to be okay.’ Relieved his voice came out normal.

‘You know that’s not true, Will. You know there’s no way to truly get rid of this thing.’