‘It should have been epic, but fear, judgement and shame got in the way. Rave spent four days alone in a cabin with his dead best friend. He didn’t want to leave him alone, you see. It was three days before he came up with the plan to join him in death. Then he walked to Blessington on an empty stomach, bought some paper and a pen and wrote me a letter. He drew a little map so that we could find Jeremy and bury him. Then he bought a sandwich, a bag of crisps, some furniture polish and a can of air freshener. He ate the food to give him enough strength to get back to Jeremy, then cleaned up and sprayed the air so that when we found him he wouldn’t smell like Rave’s da.’ Her voice broke. It was the first time Maisie had allowed herself to cry in front of the students.

‘I’m sorry.’ She collected herself. ‘I’d like to read you the letter now, if you’ll indulge me.’

When she was done, she looked at the sad streaming faces, nodding and sniffing and waiting. Lynn was staring up at her, crying her eyes out and holding John’s hand, squeezing it and clasping it tight to her chest. He just smiled and nodded.

John pushed his white hair from his face, then wiped a tear from his eye. He hadn’t been called Rave in a long time but when Maisie looked at the handsome man sitting in front of her she still saw the broken boy on the bridge. Lynn leaned over and gave him a kiss, dropping her knitting on the floor. Dave picked it up and handed it to her. Still by his friend’s side, still hanging on.

Maisie turned to see Fred standing at the side of the stage and smiling proudly. Valerie was leaning on him, giving her the thumbs-up, and behind her stood Maisie’s nineteen-year-old son, Arthur. He’d never met his brother. In a sad twist of fate Arthur had been conceived the night after Jeremy died. Arthur had kept his ma and Valerie alive all those years ago. He had bound Maisie and Fred together for ever and he had brought a smile to Bridie Bean’s face, even when she was completely gone. She died the day after Arthur’s first birthday in a nice nursing home that specialized in the care of Alzheimer’s patients. She didn’t know who anyone was, but she still spoke of and to Jeremy right up to the end.