I knew this was a lie. Not about the shrimp flavouring. That there was too much food for Dee. I’d known her eat a can of eight hot dogs, plus buns, in one sitting and still have room for dessert.

‘I’m too lovesick to eat,’ I told her.

‘I can’t believe my sister slept with Michael Reyji Ray.’ Dee sat on my bed, and it squeaked under her weight. ‘You actually had sex with a real live famous person.’

‘I know. It was amazing.’

‘You were careful, right? You know what the hospital said about infections.’

‘It’s fine. I’m telling you, Dee, this was meant to be.’

Dee placed her noodles on the floor. ‘Sounds like a dirty old man slept with a teenage fan to me. But it’s happened. Can you cross him off your list now?’

‘My list said marry Michael Reyji Ray,’ I said. ‘I haven’t married him yet.’

Dee laughed. ‘You’re too late. He married his childhood sweetheart already. Even I know that, and I can’t stand his pretentious Pink Floyd rip-off music.’

‘Don’t remind me. I thought he and his wife must have split up or something. But they haven’t. He asked me to come on tour with him. But … he said I’d have to stay a secret from his wife.’

‘Ugh. How gross. Was he into weird rock-star shit?’

‘No. He was nice. Good.’

‘Maybe you should sell your story. Teach him a lesson for cheating on his wife.’

‘Come on. I’d never do that.’

‘You look weird,’ Dee decided. ‘Your eyes are all glazed.’

‘I told you. I’ve really fallen for him. I keep thinking about the tour invitation.’

‘Oh, no. Do not be a teenage idiot who runs off on tour with an old, married rock star.’

I gave a romantic sigh. ‘It feels like I just passed up destiny.’

‘Hey – Pretty Woman’s on in half an hour. If you want fantasy land, why don’t you watch that with me?’

‘I just want to be alone.’

‘And no noodles?’

‘No thanks.’

Dee left me then, taking her noodles with her and eating as she walked.

I lit two lavender tea lights, watching them burn and flicker on my dressing table.

Breathe in, breathe out. Focus on the breath.

It was sunset outside, all pink and purple and grey. The city winked and glimmered, dusty and brown.

Breathe in, breathe out. Focus.

Breathe in, breathe out and Michael, Michael, Michael.

We were soul mates. He was the reason I’d been kept alive. I’d just walked away from my destiny.

As I tried to clear my mind and find answers, there was a ‘bang, bang, bang’ on my door.

‘Lorna?’ Dee’s voice sailed through the cardboardy wood.

‘I’m meditating,’ I called back.