‘Everyone knows that Yin was incredibly smart and a whiz at the clarinet, but the thing that stuck our friendship together was how silly and funny and imaginative she was. She was a good mix of adventurous and sensible and she would rarely turn one of my ideas down.’

I see Claire look at Milla and smile and it makes me think that maybe I did still know Yin, that she hadn’t gone and gotten a personality swap any time in the last four years.

‘She was a loyal friend, and when you told her a secret you knew that she wouldn’t tell anyone, even when it was a juicy one that would have messed with several people and got everyone talking.’

This gets a gentle laugh but I don’t look up because I can’t stand the thought of how many people are watching me right now.

‘She was a much nicer person than me, because she always saw something good and beautiful and worthwhile in everyone. And she was a better person than most of us here because she had goals and was already working towards her future. If she got obsessed with something, you couldn’t stop her from living and breathing it and she would talk about it until you needed her to stop.’

This is where it gets hard. I gulp down everything and try to stay strong. I imagine I’m drawing calm from my friends. I don’t want to break down in front of this many people.

‘This is why I know she would have gone on to do amazing things with her life. And this is why she is the wrong person for this to have happened to. This is why it’s so unfair.’

I can’t even speak of the anger I hold deep down for the man who did this. I know that you’re supposed to be forgiving in churches.

I lift my head and look out over the bobbing heads and see that everyone is with me. Some girls are crying, some look in shock. Some are practically climbing into their friends’ laps and burrowing into shoulders.

Claire nods at me from the front pew. We talked properly for the first time since Yin’s disappearance, in the empty church before the buses arrived. I wanted to make sure that she and Milla were okay with me being the one to speak.

‘I won’t ever get over this. I won’t ever forget Yin.’