It makes me feel like I am on the outside of a colourful aquarium looking in, and even if invited I wouldn’t know how to breathe water anyway.

both of us stared at where the stars would be if London had stars.

As if the current moment is just a memory for my future self.

I ignore the whirr and stare at the screen by the till, willing time to move quicker but it doesn’t oblige.

‘We have. We’re lucky that way,’ I say. And my face cracks open in a cheeky grin. It has been so long I had forgotten the joy of it.

my thighs look taut like two uncooked sausages.

We stirred with tiny silver spoons.

It was hot for late October and felt like being teleported back to summer.

Our everyday became liquid, lost its shape without Mum there as anchor.