Harper

In my sleep, I find Mum. She is in our garden, singing my Chinese name.

‘Míng Huà, Míng Huà, Míng Huà.’

She is holding out her hands for me to take, but I don’t want to touch her.

I tell her I need to be alone. For the first time, I do not want to be with my mum.

I tell her I am happiest in my room, in my home, with all my things, with Marlowe and Dad, Wài Pó and my love, Louis.

But then Mum tells me to look around. In this strange place we are in, Marlowe, Dad, Wài Pó and Louis are nowhere to be seen.