Sarah was the one person in the world who would understand. Was it too late to call her? She checked her watch. It was half past seven on Saturday night. She had such fond memories of their friendship. Of warm summers listening to Chesney Hawkes on their Walkmans and cycling to the BMX track. Meeting David and Lewis, who were a few years older, and spending forbidden time with them. Not that they’d got up to much back then. At twelve years of age their only interests were cycling around town, buying ice creams at the parlour, and splashing about in the lake. It was adjacent to the Slayton Lakeside Hotel which was equipped with a jetty and water sports centre. The lake was the first thing people saw when driving towards town, and the last thing they passed when they left. She’d spent many a happy summer’s day in its waters. It was where she first met Lewis, with his dark wavy hair and tanned skin. She and Sarah had been swimming when he arrived with David in tow. She’d watched them splashing about with some old car tyre inner tubes, their goofy laughter filling the air. Maggie had seen them occasionally in town, but hadn’t had the courage to approach them until that day. She smiled as she remembered how mortified Sarah had been when she’d gone up to them. Sarah had always been an introverted soul, but they’d had so much fun that day. The boys weren’t like the other kids in school, they were more mature for a start. Lewis had quickly become the love of her life. But now he lay broken and silent, his eyes vacant when she sat next to his bed. Each week she relayed her news, her hollow words echoing around the room with no response. If ever she needed a friend, she needed one now.

Dialling Sarah’s phone number she exhaled a stream of smoke before stubbing the cigarette into the ashtray at the back door. With Elliott’s insights, it had been safer to keep her circle small. Sarah had kept a low profile too. They’d grown apart when they’d needed each other the most.

‘Hello?’ Sarah answered, after the fourth ring. There was hesitancy in her voice. She sounded spooked.

‘It’s me, Maggie,’ she said, closing the kitchen door. She opened the glass cupboard above her head.

‘Maggie,’ Sarah said, with relief. ‘Sorry … I thought it was a prank call.’

‘Oh … sorry to bother you.’ Maggie took a wine glass from the cupboard. ‘Are you free for a chat?’