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‘Are you okay?’ I ask, not knohat else to say to her I’ve shocked her withto keep up a hard persona I quickly realise that she doesn’t know he’s awake I’ her informed, but he doesn’t know either ‘He’s come round’

Her eyes snap to mine ‘He’s okay?’

‘He will be, if the stubborn idiot listens to the Doctor’ I hold up a miniature jar of peanut butter that I found in the restaurant ‘And eats’

She sot more than one of those’

‘Ten’ I lift‘But it’s not Sun-Pat, so he’ll probably reject it’

She actually laughs, but stops quickly, and I know that it’s because she thinks it’s inappropriate It probably is, not because the situation isn’t funny, but because she’s laughing with , Sarah’ I need her to appreciate that e ‘I’ll never forget what you tried to do to us, but I think I understand why you did it’

Her red lips part, heropen in shock ‘He told you?’

‘About your little girl About Rosie About Carirls ith Carmichael in the first place’

‘Oh’ Her eyes fall to the blue plastic floor ‘It’s always been ours’

She means their story and connection And I’ve severed it The wo in front of me has always exuded confidence and cockiness, and I have striped her down to the bare truth I do feel sorry for her I’ot it with the man who she wants it with She tried to take her own life, but that will neverwill ever h-class sex clubs, drink problehter, or the desolation of Sarah Neither will the madness that surrounds all of those reasons This Man has thrown everything atanywhere Unbreakable

‘Can I see him?’ she asks quietly ‘I’ll understand if you refuse’

I should refuse, but compassion refuses to let me I need closure on this, and she does, too ‘Sure I’ll wait here’ I sit myself down on a hard plastic chair and watch her disappear into his rooood idea, anyway, so instead I finish ar hit

‘Ava?’

I look up and see Jesse’sdown the corridor ‘Hi,’ I speak around a nal my inability to say any more