Leonie is still, wearing a small frown. Then, she upends the handbag onto the slabs. Nappies and wipes fall out, nappy bags are whisked up the street by the wind. There is a coin purse, a collection of receipts, a bunch of keys attached to a smooth pebble with a hole in it. Picking up the pebble, she shakes the bunch so that they rattle, then drops the lot back on the ground. A fruit bar, half finished and wound into its torn wrapper is what she reaches for next. She has it in her mouth when she hears the bell on the shop. The heavy door creaks as it opens, spilling yellow light and warmth onto her fingers, now almost blue with cold, that peep out beyond the cuffs of her coat.

Though it isn’t late, it’s nearly dark; the shortest day of the year. The girl toddles toward the shop’s light, toward the Christmas tree just inside, past the stranger at the door who has stepped aside to let her in, who is saying, “Where’s your mummy?”

Leonie reaches for a bauble, a shiny thing, sparkling. There’s a chocolate bell too, and she drops the fruit bar to take it in her hand.

“Whose child is this?” calls the stranger as the man from behind the counter comes forward, rubbing his hands together, his eyes wide with concern.

“Mamma?” says Leonie to the shopkeeper, recognizing nothing but the worry in his expression. Her bottom lip wobbles in uncertainty. Then, her grip on the foil-covered decoration is lost, and it hits the floor tiles, smashing into pieces that scatter from the wrapping as it splits. There is stillness as she looks at all the bits in turn, her face registering surprise. This, seemingly, is the most upsetting thing. She shuts her eyes to cry, face to the ceiling, fists clenched, mouth open and revealing eight perfect teeth.

The customer crouches, hovering his hand near the toddler, saying, “Shh, it’s okay, don’t worry. We’ll find Mamma.”

Both of the adults expect a loud noise and brace themselves for it. But when the cry comes, it is a faint, keening whisper, like distant wind. The child’s face is posed in a scream, but there is barely a sound.