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As she chops strawberries, I notice the faint tremble in her fingers. It isn’t enough for most people to see, but I notice it because she’s Isla, and I’ve always known her better than anyone.

‘Are you sure you’re okay?’ I ask quietly.

She freezes, knife in hand, for half a second. Then she forces another small smile. ‘Just tired.’

A lie. I can feel it settle in the space between us, as if the lie is physically hanging there. She slides the cutting board away, clearing the counter with quick, distracted movements. She won’t meet my eyes as she keeps her hands busy. I swallow down the hurt, that sinking feeling of being shut out by the one person who’s always been my home. I want to reach out, push gently, and tell her she doesn’t have to pretend with me. I don’t know what’s happening with her, and I don’t know how to help. She won’t let me in. Silence stretches between us as my eyes burn with tears. Finally, Isla sighs and brushes a loose strand of hair behind her ear.

‘I’m going to shower,’ she says softly, already stepping away.

‘Okay,’ I whisper, a tear falling down my cheek.

She pauses at the doorway as if she wants to say something else, but she doesn’t. I stare after her, the ache in my chest deepening. I’ve never felt further from her.

She’s slipping away, and I don’t know how to hold on.

The box is still sitting on my doona, its glossy packaging torn open, and the new phone is in my hand. I was relieved that Mum agreed to replace the one that Isla smashed, even though I still haven’t received any sort of explanation or apology from her. The entire situation has me baffled.

The phone boots up and I exhale in relief when I see all my old information there. Moving to my contacts, I type in: Ash.

I stare at his contact. It’s been a few days now, and he probably thinks I ghosted him. The thought makes my stomach twist. Even worse, he might have forgotten all about me. After shooting off a quick text to the group chat with Tess and Elodie telling them I finally have a new phone, I sit down on my bed, legs suddenly weak, and hover my thumb over the screen. My heart hammers.

I hit call before I can talk myself out of it.

‘Hello?’

His voice sends a shiver down my spine. It’s deeper than I remember.

‘Hi,’ I murmur, hating how shaky I sound. ‘It’s Bryn.’

‘I know.’ His voice lifts, warm in a way that makes me melt. ‘I was worried about you. Are you okay? I went by the house and it’s empty.’

‘Yeah.’ I force a nervous, breathy laugh. ‘My phone broke. I wasn’t ignoring you. I couldn’t message anyone and then my stepfather decided to bring forward the move. It all happened very fast.’

He exhales softly. ‘Well, I’m glad you’re all right. You quite literally vanished,’ he says, sounding concerned. ‘I thought I did something.’

‘No, you didn’t.’

‘I’m happy you called,’ he says finally. ‘Things haven’t been good here.’

My cheeks heat and my stomach flutters. I look around my perfect, empty room and for the first time since moving here, I don’t feel so alone. Talking to him makes me feel as though at least someone’s in my corner right now.

‘What’s going on?’ I ask.

‘A social worker is trying to track me down. My dad is a deadbeat. My brother is psychotic. I feel like I’m barely keeping my head above water, and then when you disappeared, I thought I was going crazy. That maybe I had imagined you after all. I did take a pretty good beating to the head.’

‘I’m definitely real, Ash,’ I whisper. ‘I’m so sorry that you’re going through all of that. I can’t even imagine.’

There’s a soft rustle on his end of the line. I imagine him in his room, leaning back on his bed, his hair falling into his eyes.

‘Tell me everything I missed.’

I smile and begin to talk.

14

ASH

Now