ten

Thorn’s alarm went off at 7am, and xe peeled the blankets off us.

‘Go hop in the shower then, kitty girl.’ Xe kissed the back of my neck.

When I finished up in the shower, there was an outfit laid out on the bed: my black turtleneck, my sailor scout skirt, and a pair of brand new thigh-high kitty socks. My bag was gone, and so were my bras and panties. Okay then! That’s a vibe, for sure. I slipped on my clothes and wriggled my toes as I pulled up the thigh-highs. Yummy.

I packed up my toilet bag and went to find Thorn. Xe was outside, checking the oil in xyr Toyota Aqua. I don’t care about cars, obviously, but xyr little hybrid was bright orange and super cute, plus, we love an environmental king, right? I crept up behind Thorn and wrapped my arms around xyr belly while xe lowered the bonnet.

‘We’re good to go, Princess. You wanna go do goodbyes?’

‘Yes, Daddy. I’ll be right back.’

Standing in the hall, I could hear National Radio coming from the kitchen, and the clatter of breakfast things. John and Fi’s bedroom was empty. Hannah’s door was still closed. I cracked it open and inhaled her sleep smell. When I was little, I would run down the hallway in the morning and throw open this door. It smelled just the same then, as I launched my tiny body through the air and onto Hannah. Which must have sucked for her—getting a dawn wake-up call from your little sibling when you’re still a desperately sleepy teenager—but, to be honest, I can’t really remember how she reacted, whether she was pissed off or gave me a cuddle, I just remember the sleep smell and the running to see my big sister, my actual favourite person in the world. I didn’t fling the door open now, just slipped through it and lay down on the blankets beside her.

Hannah rolled over, still under her duvet, and opened her eyes. ‘Time for you to go, huh?’

‘Time for me to go.’

‘You know I love you, right?’ She spoke very softly. Her face was illuminated by the bright sun creeping round her bedroom curtains.

‘I know.’ I wriggled closer and pressed my forehead against hers. ‘Say goodbye to the olds for me?’

She closed her eyes. ‘No problem.’

‘I love you,’ I whispered.

Hannah was already drifting off.