Yet on their journey to the cemetery, the little girl had shrunk from other pedestrians, the occasional passing vehicle, and even a pigeon that had fluttered over their heads to land on the pavement just ahead of them. Inside the lining of Aviva’s coat, Estelle had sewn the only picture she had of Aviva’s family, the one she’d taken from the Wylers’ apartment that horrible night. She’d written nothing but the date on the back of it. No names, no places, nothing that could betray Aviva’s real identity if it ever fell into the wrong hands. But the idea of Aviva disappearing without at least a tiny piece of the family who had loved her was intolerable to Estelle.

The grave where they were to meet the people who would take Aviva to safety was up ahead. Estelle stopped, and in the lacklustre light beneath a bruised sky, she crouched in front of the small child, double-checking the buttons of her coat, as if she could stall the inevitable. As if such action could stay the tremble of her fingers and smother the sense of loss that was already rising to choke her. Another soul slipping away from her as silently and surely as smoke through her fingers.

“Are you ready to go on your adventure?” Estelle asked, knowing her smile was entirely too bright. She would not cry.

Aviva nodded, her dark eyes filled with nothing but the sadness that had haunted them for far too long.

“They are going to take you out of Paris,” Estelle continued. “Somewhere you can play outside with friends your own age. Somewhere that you might even be able to have a dog.”

Aviva stood up straighter at the mention of a dog. She reached for Estelle’s hand.

Estelle took a deep breath. “Aviva, I can’t come with you. We talked about this.”

The little girl shook her head frantically, her forehead creasing.

“But I promise I will come and find you,” she rushed on. “As soon as I am able. I’m going to look for your mama and aunt, too, and we’ll all come to find you.” Estelle refused to acknowledge that what she was saying was likely impossible. “Do you remember what I told you? That you can’t tell anyone your real name. Or where you used to live. There are people who will take good care of you until I come to get you. All right? Can you do that?”

Aviva nodded uncertainly.

“You are the bravest person I know,” Estelle said and hugged the fragile body close to her.

And then, with an almost physical pain, she forced herself back to her feet and tugged Aviva forward.