CLAIRE

We stayed until almost four in the morning, until the last of the active flames were out and the building was just a dark wet shell of itself under the streetlights.

Marcus drove us home in silence. I sat in the back with Julian, my head against his shoulder, neither of us talking.

I don't remember getting into bed. I just remember waking up at six with the smell of smoke still in my hair and Julian already awake beside me. "You didn't sleep," I said.

"Neither did you really," he replied.

I sat up and looked at my phone, twelve missed calls. Nina, Maria, Patricia and several numbers...