I’m in the middle of the lake. The ice groans. I tilt forward. The water pulls me under. Everything is hushed. Down and down I go, in a stream of tiny bubbles.
‘Help me!’ I cry.
No one hears me. The water deadens everything. Darkness closes in. I’m a goner this time, I’m sure of it.
Out of nowhere, a light darts towards me like a will o’ the wisp. My heart leaps. The light becomes a shape. It’s him again, the boy in the white shirt.
He stops a few steps away. I see how his hair curls over his collar, and how his eyes seek out mine. I’ve never seen anyone so lovely. I go all fluttery inside. Trouble is, I know what happens next. Any second and he’ll lead me to the bank. But I don’t want to be saved just yet. I want to stay here like this.
He comes closer. I can barely meet his eye. It’s then I see how sad he looks. Something is clearly very wrong.
‘Tilly,’ he says.
How do I hear him? And how on earth does he know my name?