‘I pause in my scissor-play when I hear a key in the door downstairs. It’s too late to turn the bedroom light off so I swiftly move into Evie’s room next door and hide in the alcove where the sink is, above which is a mirror where I can see both the door and the bed. I can hear a man’s voice. I listen carefully – Evie is laughing. Then I realize that it isn’t a man at all, it’s Josh. Josh and Evie are coming up the stairs, chatting, giggling. I crouch down as they come into the room, pressing myself deep into the alcove, the scissors still in my hand. I watch him in the mirror, my boy, my man-boy. He doesn’t see me for he has eyes only for Evie. He takes her in his arms and kisses her, like a man might. They lie down on the bed and I wait until they are lost in each other’s bodies before I leave the room. I walk straight past them and leave them to their love. I go back down the stairs and exit the house the same way I came in, spinning the scissors in my hand like John Wayne might his gun.

‘It has stopped raining now but everything is wet and gleaming in the street light. I look up. From outside Ness’s house I can see the back of my own. What a beautiful house it is. We had it re-pointed and painted a very pale blue a few years ago, a lifetime ago. The lights are all on and smoke is coming out of the chimney, dark grey against the orange sky – Karl must have a fire going. The house radiates home, it’s all warmth and security. I let out a little gasp of joy as I see small figures running up and down the stairs in a chase, shadows bouncing off the walls. I know they’re Annie and Polly. I have to see them better. At the back of our house is a narrow overgrown alley that the neighbourhood cats crap in. I go down it, reach my hand over the wooden door and unlock our garden gate.’