‘Nope. Not here, anyway. You got it, or need me to wrangle someone in?’

‘Don’t worry. They’re just finishing up with someone else down the corridor, as it goes.’

There’s a snort. I blink open my eyes, head still rolling on my neck. The woman from the ambulance is in front of me with another woman wearing baggy blue pyjamas. Ambulance Woman looks down at me and smiles.

‘Alright there?’

Nothing happens as I try to sit up. I close my eyes again as she propels me upright, neck pinching as I try to balance my head. It feels like it might sink into my body at any moment. When I finally look up, the pyjamas are gone, but Ambulance Woman is still cupping the back of my head.

‘Let’s try again, shall we? Alright?’

I think my neck actually creaks as I try to nod. My head stands by itself as she lets go, lacing her hands together in her lap as she flops into the chair next to me. Up ahead, there’s silver foil all crumpled in a heap on the floor inside the curtains round Kayleigh.111

I ask myself again: Who called the ambulance? And what’s happening to my sister? It must have been Ma, except I know Ma can hardly stand up without falling down again. And Ambulance Woman saw all that. The pricks of light pop again as I start to grasp how hard it is going to be to hide even the smallest thing in here.

‘So,’ Ambulance Woman says, thumbs rolling round and round like she’s winding thread. ‘You going to tell anyone what’s really gone on here?’

Round and round and round her thumbs go as we sit in silence. I keep swallowing. This time, I’m going to keep it all down.

‘You’re about to get asked a whole load of questions, by folks a whole lot more important than me. They’ll be able to help you, and your sister. If you talk to them, that is. Otherwise they’ll have to go digging … and take all this out of your control. Is that what you want?’

The hospital bustles around us. Another big swallow as I watch a pair of shoes dancing on their own in the gap under the curtain.

‘How’s about I guess?’ she says after a moment, thumbs starting to turn again. ‘Let’s see, now. If you’re not sixteen yet, you can’t be responsible for your sister. So, you’ll both be made wards of the state, unless Mum or Dad show up. Is that what you want?’

I hold my breath.

‘But if you’re sixteen, you’re an adult, aren’t you? No reason you can’t be responsible for your sister, instead of your mum or dad. Maybe you’ve got a relative who also takes care of you, who might show up instead…’