‘There’s a place in this home that I like best of all. It’s out the back, where the wooden decking descends gently into the garden and the trees that line each side lean inwards, giving it the look of an old, green theatre. It is really quite beautiful, out there. When the evening’s sweet and all the patients have been put to bed, I come out to sit on the steps. I bring with me a piece of candy. I unwrap it, and hold it under my tongue, firmly, as the sugar melts.’

A Girl

A Year Later

Alarm goes off. 5:14 a.m. A day in the life. Hit snooze button once. +8 minutes. Hit snooze button twice. +16 minutes overall. Actual wake-up time: 5:30 a.m. Fifteen minutes allocated to peeing, shower with a temperature of 36°C, towelling. Towel around chest, tuck in, toe my way to the dark kitchen. Pros of the early shift? Making breakfast with no clothes on. Cons of the early shift? Noise pollution must be kept to a minimum. Toast. Two slices. One with butter, one with smooth peanut butter. Instant coffee. One small mug, one sugar, a splash of whole milk. Exercise shoulders with twenty inward rolls, twenty outwards. Breakfast while standing. Return to bathroom to complete morning routine. Clothes on the chair ready to go from the evening before. Wear uniform trousers but not the shirt. Regulation shoes: flats, black, strapped. The 149 leaves at 6:20 a.m. Sit at the back on the lower level for extra legroom.

Wait for keyholder at back entry. A day in the life. In winter, stand next to bakery exhaust pipe. In summer, stand well away from bakery exhaust pipe. It is winter. Keyholder arrives: 6:45 a.m. It’s Malick. Malick is nice. Ten minutes allocated to changing into full uniform. Unlock locker. Blue polo shirt. Girl scout tri-coloured neckerchief. Clip magnetic nametag on pocket. Ponytail. Company visor. Why a visor? Reconvene in staff room. Time for one more hot drink, but no time to make a hot drink. Drink coffee if someone has made coffee while you were getting changed. Malick has poured a mug for you. He is nice. Jenny, Polina, Mercè and Kev are in staff room. Anya is late. It’s the first time this week so it’s OK with Malick. All march to safe to retrieve floats. No change is left in tills overnight. Occupy till at the back of shop floor. Pour change into correct slots: £2, £1, 50p, et cetera. Pull clear plastic bags out of dispenser box and shake open. Arrange to end side of conveyor belt.

‘Ready, guys?’ says Boris, the security guy. Inserts code and unlocks sliding doors.