“Isn’t it?”

“No. Hilbert and I have been talking. The tragedy of life isn’t that the end comes. That’s the gift. Without an end, there’s nothing. There’s no meaning. Do you see? A moment isn’t a moment. A moment is an eternity. A moment should mean something. It should be everything.”

His eyes are wet, but he doesn’t look sad. He doesn’t move for some time. He turns his head, looks down at my bedside table, and I follow his eyes to a single piece of paper and pencil.

“You’re right,” he says.

He picks up the paper and pencil, scribbles something on it, then puts the pencil and paper back down on the table.

“For you,” he says, touching my arm. “I know how much you like the fresh air.”

He walks out without looking back.

I pick up paper. On one side is an old note I’d written for myself.

You loved talking with Hilbert.

I turn the paper over and look at the message Jack has just written for me.

6 - 7 - 8 - 8 - 7

“And you just had a bad dream, Penny. Are you okay?”

It’s her, Shelley, standing by my bed, leaning over me.

“Get away from me,” I say. “Don’t touch me.”

I open my eyes as wide as I can, taking her in.

“I know what’s true,” I say.

“Please, Penny. This isn’t helping.”

“Open my window! You can’t. Because the windows are fake. They aren’t real.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I know they aren’t real. You can’t open them.”

Shelley walks over to the window, opens it, puts her long arm outside.

“It’s cold out there. Can I close it, please? Penny?”

“I want to see Jack do it.”

“Jack’s not here right now.”

“What? What do you mean? What was that thing doing in my arm?”

“That thing, as you call it, is important. You need it. You were getting dehydrated. You’ve had it for six months. I keep hoping you’ll get used to it.”

I feel the color drain from my face.

“I’ve never seen it until this morning.”

“Do you know why you’re here? Why you’re not still living in your apartment?”

“Because I’m so old. And now you’re using me. All of us.”

“Because you’re unwell, Penny, and you need our help. And, sometimes, like today, you really forget things, and then you get confused and scared and upset.”

“Why aren’t you telling me the truth?”

“The truth is you are cared for and well looked after. You’re thriving here.”

“Where’s Hilbert? Tell me where you’ve taken him.”

“Hilbert hasn’t been feeling well. He’s resting.”

“You hurt him. You’re keeping him alive… you’re doing it to all of us.”

She breaks eye contact for a moment. She’s trying to compose herself. “It’s good that you care about your friend Hilbert. But you need to stop worrying, Penny. I can still remember your first day. You and Hilbert hit it off right away.”

“But I’ve only just moved in. I’m new.”