– It’s creepy enough in here half the time, Morag, you’ll need the candlelight when I’m gone.

– I know! Did you see Mr Udnam is putting up a new housing association plaque? Aye. There’s some big honour being bestowed on him by the city. I keep seeing him getting all these things but how come he’s doing this housing association or charity work or whatever it is he does, and we still can’t afford to live in Edinburgh? One day nobody will be able to afford to live here but rich people. And they’ll live elsewhere most of the year! It’ll be an ancient city that’s just a playground for posh cunts. We’ll travel in by bus sometimes to look at it. The buildings will all be empty. They will be full of silence.

– Imagine us marrying men and living on the same street, Morag.

– Raising our children together?

She taps my leg.

I turn.

Watch the rain.

Say nothing.

We can do pretty much everything without speaking.

She is my favourite quietude.

Both of the recruiters came here to see me the second time.

Commented on how innocent I look.

They said Germans like French girls who flirt. I acted it out. They seemed satisfied. Left. When Morag came home she had no idea who had been sat here a few hours before. She fell asleep. I lay with my hand splayed on the bedroom wall. I imagined that little girl’s hand splayed on the other side of the wall.

I knew then.

I won’t come back to No. 10 Luckenbooth Close.

I will live out my life somewhere else after this war.