Chapter 7

Chapter 7

I heard later, through a friend we'd had in common, that Margaret didn't pull through. She died in hospital.

Bianca was investigated for fraud and had accumulated significant debts with people who weren't patient. She left overnight, taking Hugo with her. No one knew where.

Lucas was on a mountain rescue operation in a remote area when a landslide came through. He got a child out. A falling rock caught his leg.

He'd never return to active rescue work.

When my friend finished telling me all of this, I was watering the plants on my balcony. The light was coming through the leaves the way it does in the late afternoon, catching the water droplets.

"Right," I said. "Thanks for telling me."

I hung up and went back to the watering.

Whether the news had been meant to make me feel something in particular — I didn't try to work it out.