‘All the more reason to make the most of your time in Bristol,’ I say cheerily. ‘You could do anything here. What have you always wanted to try? I’m sure we can organize anything you fancy.’

But Casey’s eyes have blurred with tears. Before I can backtrack, she says, ‘I don’t want to talk about it, I can’t—’

She rushes past me, off the terrace, through the living room. A door slams and Bear’s ears twitch with stress.

‘Sorry,’ I say to Dan. ‘I didn’t think that would upset her.’

He shakes his head. ‘It’s not you. She’s dealing with a lot of stuff. Her mum. The treatment. Maybe she’s a bit homesick for the “most boring place on the planet”.’ But even as he draws speech marks in the air, his eyes are heavy. ‘I’d better try and talk to her. Would you come too? Please? I’m lost when she’s like this, and you really seem to have a way with her.’

Should I go? She’s already been let down by the adults in her life so it might be a terrible idea to let her trust me, only to leave too.

Except I can’t turn my back on someone who is hurting this much.

I follow him and he knocks softly on her door. ‘Casey, are you OK?’

‘I’m fine.’ Her voice sounds muffled.

‘Do you want to talk about what upset you?’

After a few seconds the door opens. ‘I’m fine.’ Casey’s skin is blotchy, but she’s not crying any more. ‘I’m tired, that’s all.’

The room behind her is tiny and bland, with a childish woodland cover on the duvet. I stand next to Dan. ‘Was it something I said? I’d like to help.’

She hesitates before nodding. ‘You can come in. On your own.’

Dan smiles tightly.

I step into the room, sit down on the bed next to her. There’s a porthole window in the wall looking out onto the harbour, and I change my mind about the room. This makes it special.

Bear follows me and jumps onto the duvet, which makes Casey smile: at least she’s not scared of him now. ‘Are you missing your mum?’

‘No!’ she says. ‘OK. A bit. But that’s not why . . .’

‘Why you got upset? What was it then?’

‘All that stuff about a wish list. I don’t want to do anything. I want to get this over with and be normal.’

I nod. ‘I know, sweetheart. But normal includes having fun.’

Casey shakes her head and I realize she’s trying not to cry again.

‘Whatever it is that’s hurting, you can tell me. It might make you feel better. And I promise I won’t tell anyone else, unless you want me to.’

She shakes her head again.

‘OK. Well, like I mentioned at the hospital, the other thing you can do is tell Bear. He always listens.’ At the sound of his name, my dog nuzzles his body into Casey’s leg. ‘I can leave, if you want,’ I suggest.