How late is it? How long have we been sitting here? I look at my watch – three thirty and the
day is almost ending. It’s October. All those kids recently returned to classrooms with new bags and
pencil cases will be looking forward to half term already. How quickly it goes. Halloween soon, then
firework night. Christmas. Spring. Easter. Then there’s my birthday in May. I’ll be seventeen.

How long can I stave it off? I don’t know. All I know is that I have two choices – stay wrapped in
blankets and get on with dying, or get the list back together and get on with living.

Author: Jenny Downham