JORDAN LIES CURLED IN A ball on the hard concrete floor. It feels like he has lain in this position for days, but there are no days or nights now, just sleeping and not sleeping.

Everything hurts.

His head throbs. His back aches. His shackled arm is numb and his legs wobble when he stands. His lips are cracked and swollen. He tries to wet them but his tongue is thick and feels like a dry dirty sink sponge.

Closing his eyes, he tries to recall happier times.

He can almost feel his body float and drift back to the summer. It was his ninth birthday and he had gone for pizza with Mum and Dad. They weren’t fighting then. They were getting along and for the first time, for as long as he could remember, Jordan felt like he was part of a proper family. Everything was perfect. It was August and the sun was shining and there were balloons on the table and presents and a surprise birthday cake with nine candles that he extinguished with one single fierce blow.

Dad laughed and ruffed his hair. Mum told him, ‘Did you know your star sign is Leo, Jordan?’ He didn’t know that. ‘People who have the Leo star sign are lions, Jord, and you’re a lion, that’s what you are. My little lion man. You know, just like the song.’

Jordan beamed at her. He didn’t know the song but liked the idea of being strong and fearless like a lion. She hugged him and then she and dad and a waitress sang ‘Happy Birthday’.

His eyes well, despite feeling bone dry, and two tiny tears, the last of his moisture, squeeze through the roots of his lashes. He lifts his free hand and gently tries to scoop the sap to his mouth. His fingers are grubby and all he can taste is salt.

He tries to refocus his mind back to his birthday, but the strip light begins to fizzle and flicker off and on, off and on. It makes his head spin and for a moment he feels he might puke, and to his relief, he doesn’t. Within moments the light gives up and the entire room is plunged into darkness.

Jordan lies still, lost and small in the blackness. He wants so much to return to his ninth birthday but the feelings it’s brought up have wiped him out. He closes his eyes and within moments falls into a restless sleep.

In his dream he hears someone call his name.

‘Hey, Jordan!’ says the voice, louder this time.

Jordan looks up. The light is working and the room is bright again. He slowly pushes himself into a sitting position and scans the room but doesn’t see anyone.

‘Who’s there?’

‘I’m over here.’