She’d broken up with him.

‘You’re wrong,’ June said.

Everything shook. Everything pulsed. The world flew past, all streetlights and raindrops, the wipers squealing. It seemed like it was all moving faster and faster and faster, and it hit me all at once, everything fitting together.

The air around Heath’s body seemed to go red. He’d sent the first text after the funeral, then after the cemetery. He stole her folder. Everything was too bright and too much and I had to say the words:

‘You did everything,’ I said. ‘It was all you.’

Heath didn’t even flinch. ‘Well, yes.’

With nowhere to go, the fear became almost claustrophobic; I felt like I’d been trapped in this car for a million years. Where even were we? I’d lived here my whole life but as the residential streets rushed past I had no idea where we even were. Where were we going? ‘What do you want, then?’ I said, purposely speaking from the back of my throat so the sound wouldn’t waver.

His grip tightened again. ‘I wanted to ask how it feels to know you’ve singlehandedly ruined everything. Because you have. None of this would be happening if it weren’t for you. Oh. And your fucking faggot of a dad.’

I clenched my teeth so hard I thought they might shatter.

Dad.

Dad.

The fear turned to anger and the anger to rage.

‘What did you do to him?’

Heath just laughed. He actually laughed.

I couldn’t move.

‘Nothing, you fucking moron. I didn’t do anything to him. Can’t say I was upset when I heard the news, though, but that’s not a crime.’

I dived. June stopped me before I could make contact, threw herself between me and him from the back seat. I wanted to beat that smug little smirk off his face. Everyone I’d ever watched die on the ToD now looked like Heath. It was Heath, getting hit by a train. Heath, leaping off a building, jump, gasp, splat. Heath, beheaded by ISIS. I didn’t even understand. I didn’t understand why he was saying any of this, so I replied with the only thing I knew: ‘You’re lying.’

June grabbed my arm, and I knew the pressure was too tight, too much, but the pain didn’t register. ‘Sydney.’ Her eyes caught mine and kept them in place. Relax, she mouthed.

Dad. Heath was lying. He had to be. ‘You’re fucking lying!’

‘Do not raise your voice.’