I nod. But I’m lying. I don’t understand at all. All I know is that it isn’t fair. But Mutti already looks so sad and I can’t bear to make her feel any worse. So I don’t say anything.

I wheel my bicycle down the hallway and Vati holds the front door open for me.

‘One hour,’ he says. ‘Okay?’ He’s so strict nowadays. Sometimes I feel like I can’t breathe.

‘Okay, Vati,’ I agree, then I hop on my bike and cycle to the park to meet the boys.

The park is beautiful. The sun is shining and blossom is coming out on the trees. Pink leaves bloom all along the path to the green where we always meet. The boys are both there already. They’re playing games with toy soldiers.

‘I win!’ Max shouts, shooting dead Leo’s soldier and raising his hands in the air in victory as I arrive.

I lean my bike against a tree and go over to join them.

‘Come on. Now that Elsa’s here, let’s play tag,’ Leo says. Before I have time to reply, he slaps Max on the arm, shouts ‘Tag!’ and runs off.

‘Not fair!’ Max protests. ‘We hadn’t even said we’re playing yet.’

‘You’re just complaining because I’m faster than you,’ Leo retorts over his shoulder as he runs.

‘No, you’re not,’ Max replies grumpily.

‘Come on, then, catch me!’

Max takes a step towards Leo. Then he glances at me. A glint comes into his eye and he switches direction.

Before I know what’s happening, he’s grabbed me around my waist. ‘Tag, you’re it!’ he shouts.

‘Let go of me, then!’ I squeal.

Max still has his arms around me. ‘What if I don’t want to?’ he asks.

I push him away. ‘Then I’ll tag you back,’ I say.

I can hear Leo creeping up behind us. I hold Max’s eyes and silently count to five – long enough for Leo to think he’s safe – and then I twirl round. ‘Tag!’ I shout, grabbing Leo’s sleeve as he swerves so I fall on to the bench.

He flops down beside me.

‘Okay, one tag each,’ I say. ‘That’s enough.’

Max is standing in front of us. ‘Let’s go to the pond. I think there should be tadpoles in there by now.’

Leo jumps up from the bench. ‘I bet there will be. There was a whole load of frogspawn last week.’

Both of them walk over to pick up their bicycles.

‘Boys,’ I say. ‘Wait.’

‘What’s wrong?’ Leo asks, looking back at me.

I take a breath. This is it.

‘I…’ I begin. Something is clogging up my throat. I swallow and start again. ‘I’ve got something to tell you.’

The boys stop and stare at me.

‘What’s wrong?’ Max asks. ‘Are you ill?’

I shake my head.