‘Well, let me tell you, Mum. It turns out Angel is a mean girl, a persecutor, an oppressor, a bully.’ Sasha dared her daughter to contradict her, but Angel didn’t reply. ‘What I don’t understand is why you would do such a thing?’

‘It all got out of hand,’ Angel said miserably. ‘My squad thought it was funny to send her some texts. It’s not all my fault, it was the others, too.’

‘I don’t care about any of those other girls,’ said Sasha. ‘Oh, wait, I do! Because one of your lovely friends who was here last night videoed your dad hitting our neighbour and uploaded it on the internet!’

‘It’s not my fault Dad’s a total fruit loop. It’s no wonder I’m the way I am!’

Sasha placed the glass on the counter with a trembling hand. ‘You will apologize to Tilly for your appalling behaviour.’

‘I could be totally innocent and you wouldn’t believe me,’ said Angel. ‘In your mind I’m always the bad child, the naughty one who does bad things. I’m always such a disappointment to you.’

Sasha liked to think she was the kind of person who gave her children positive reinforcements, and tried not to be critical – and the teacher had told her to speak gently to Angel about what had happened – but she felt let down and very cross, and she heard herself say, ‘Yes, you are.’

Angel burst into tears.

Sasha instantly tried to backtrack. ‘I didn’t mean it like that.’

‘Yes you did! You hate me!’

‘It’s just… this is not who you are, Angel, you’re better than this.’

‘Why is it always me who gets it in the neck?’ Angel shouted. ‘Oh, yeah, of course, it’s because you love Denny more than me, you always have.’

‘That’s ridic—’

‘And you loved Jake more than you love either of us.’

‘No…’ Sasha gawped at her daughter, shocked, horrified, barely able to speak. ‘That’s not—’

‘Because he’s dead, because he’s always going to be oh-so-perfect, and he’ll never make trouble for you like the rest of us imperfect people!’

The accusation twisted in Sasha’s chest like a knife. She spoke quietly but her words were laced with anger. ‘I can’t believe you would say something so hurtful.’

‘Sasha…’ warned Ursula.

‘How dare you say that, how dare you bring Jake into it!’

‘You’re on everybody’s side but mine!’ screamed Angel. ‘You never see the good in me!’

‘That’s not true.’ Sasha said shortly. ‘I love you. I’d give you my last breath if you needed it. But you’ve let me down, Angel, and you’ve let yourself down!’

‘You think I’m a bully and a hateful person.’