‘What happened?’ he finally stammered. ‘What did she do?’ Principal Holmes had stepped back from Wren’s embrace but held onto his forearm, seeming to need the physical contact.

‘She… she… took tablets, lots of them… she drowned in the bathtub,’ he whispered, trying not to let the neighbors hear him.

‘Jesus, Principal Holmes. I’m so sorry.’ Wren knew why she’d done it, and now he knew how she’d done it. It didn’t make it any easier. He had played a huge role in this terrible incident. He should have called her, should have made her listen to him.

He heard people talking loudly behind them, speculating what had happened. The tragic death of a seventeen-year-old girl would be gossip for years to come. Olivia would be immortalized in death by her final act in life.

‘What do we do now?’ Wren asked.

‘I need to go with Olivia and you need to go home.’ Wren nodded, that was the smart thing to do. He pushed through the crowd, some of whom were taking photos and videos, and grabbed his bike from the footpath, slowly riding home.

His mom’s car was in the driveway, but Billy’s was missing. He jumped off his still-moving bike, threw it to the ground once again and yelled as loudly as he could. He was kicking his bike when his mom flew out the door. She ran down the path and grabbed his hands.

‘Wren!’ she said, ‘What’s wrong? Are you OK?’

‘She fucking killed herself!’ he yelled.

‘What? Who? Olivia?’ she asked, shocked. When Wren didn’t answer, she asked again. ‘Olivia? You mean Olivia’s—’

‘Dead.’ He flung his arms around her and dropped his head onto her shoulder for a brief moment before pushing her away. ‘She took a bottle of tablets and drowned herself.’ His voice was devoid of emotion and tears now. His mom looked at him strangely for a second before trying to hug him again, but Wren was having none of it. He saw the hurt flash across her features before sadness settled in.

‘Sorry, Mom, I just need… I don’t know what I need.’

‘Come inside, sweetheart, I’ll get you a drink and we’ll talk.’ She gently wrapped an arm around his shoulder and this time he let her. She led him inside and sat him on the couch, then went to put the kettle on in the kitchen. She came back with a warm mug and sat down next to her son.

‘Was she depressed, Wren? Was she going through something?’

‘I don’t know, I don’t know!’ he said, knowing exactly what had happened.

She hushed him as Ty was asleep. They’d think of a way to tell him tomorrow. He was very close with Olivia; she treated him like a little brother.

‘Her dad…’ He couldn’t finish.