I bite my bottom lip and then decide I can’t do this completely blind. I need some answers. I need an ally.

I sit down on the couch across from her and lean forward, elbows on my knees. “Kiera, we’re close, right?”

“Obviously.”

“K, well, I’m about to say something, and I know it’s going to sound absolutely insane. I want you to have an open mind, if you can. If you don’t want to, that’s fine, but—”

She gives me a look. “I hardly think you’ll shock me.”

“Ha,” I laugh. “We’ll see.”

“What is it?”

Maureen gives up on being the center of attention and curls into a ball on the floor.

I get up the nerve to say it.

“I don’t know who you are.”

“Jesus, Nial’s not that bad. What are you on about?”

“No, no, I mean, I don’t know who you are at all. I don’t know who that bartender was last night, though I understand his name is Cillian. I kind of don’t know who … who I am, right now. I mean, I do, but—yeah. I don’t live here. I’m from California.”

“I thought you were from the one with all the alligators and crime. What’s it—Florida?”

She’s rightfully confused, and I know I’m being confusing, but I can’t help it. I’m also confused.

“I am originally, yes. Okay. Look. I know this sounds like some weird joke or lie or, I don’t know, a crazy delusion. And honestly, maybe it is. But the thing is, I live in Los Angeles. I’m an actress.”

“What the hell are you— Are you Truman Show–ing me?”

“I had my thirtieth birthday party, all these people were over, Barry Keoghan was there.”

“Did I tell you my cousin Marnie went to primary school with him? O’Connell in Dublin. She said he was a twat. But Marnie’s a bit of a twat.” She looks at me. “Sorry, go on, you had a party, ol’ Barry was there. Where was I when you were having this party?”

“I don’t know, I was in LA. Right, okay, so that night, I booked this cottage on Airbnb and a flight all on a whim. I flew here, I got out of the taxi, I walked inside, dropped my suitcase, and then I went to the pub to get food, as all I’d eaten all day was a pretzel from the airport. As far as I know, before last night, I’ve never spoken to you or to Cillian or—anyone here before.”

“Oh, wait, is this a dream you had? You’re supposed to start that kind of thing with, I had a dream where this batshit thing happened.”

“No, I’m telling you the truth. That’s my real life.”

“Are you concussed?”