CHAPTER I. The Empty Seat

My sister called me while she was sitting beside me. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQHNS6QApiw

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That's what I keep thinking about. Not the clapping, or what happened when we got home. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp6AkV7X75j

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Her name was on my screen. Her hand was resting on my arm. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgETu3grbc4

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The voice on the phone sounded like Nora. So did the woman beside me. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgRoiACDkIK

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I chose the one I could touch.

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Our younger brother had three lines in the school play. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXecdbeMm9I

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Mum joked that it was more than he usually said at dinner, and made us all go. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmqTMpDwBov

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Mum and Dad sat near the front. Nora and I were farther back, beside the aisle on the left. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡumeEm1DP8i

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The hall smelled of wet coats and dust from the old heaters along the walls. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbjL7DQFrXR

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Nora had come straight from work. She sat down in our row, checked her phone and sighed.

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“If Jamie forgets his lines, we pretend it was on purpose.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrosKgP7Tqh

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“All three?” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0fWeWpNnAf

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“Especially all three.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0blROqGQXa

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She had barely spoken to me on the drive there. I'd borrowed her coat without asking and stained the sleeve. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmOsSUHntId

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She kept saying she wasn't angry, but I knew she was. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡr3es9EC3Ot

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When the lights went down, she moved her bag off the empty seat between us. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVwArHbRhWR

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“Come here, Lilith. You can't see from there.” I moved over. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6hq6JDKL49

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Halfway through the first act, a little girl walked onto the stage, saw the audience and immediately walked off again. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡOWyQztqHuv

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Everyone clapped to encourage her. Nora clapped too. Her rings clicked together. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWk2eI6sMxw

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I leaned closer and whispered, “You could at least look like you're enjoying it.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡu5k5WcxgKe

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“I'm exhausted.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡI4MuYIWqea

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“You look furious.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ03woYF1Y4f

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“Then stop looking at me.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡGc4nehZp83

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I sat back. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡi6f39LAXuj

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When the show paused for a break, she stood up and put on her coat. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡn547hh1xNh

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“Bathroom. Do you want anything?” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVINbglCbj1

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“Water.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ9iBfc6iV62

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She left her bag beneath her seat. I watched her walk down the aisle. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV0LwXeDNz9

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Near the doors, she turned sideways to let a man carrying a stack of chairs get past. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjWUA42GGPK

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Someone behind me asked if the seat on my other side was free. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoIR1yyjbxH

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When I turned back, Nora was gone. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡftX6AnkSEJ

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A bell rang a few minutes later. People came back carrying drinks and squeezing past each other to reach their seats. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡytkOv4EFr0

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I sent Nora a message. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡuZ3LKmX8fz

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They're starting again. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡKrbjm6BQYw

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The lights dimmed before she replied. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmdHMTOGbzp

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I was watching a teacher move a cardboard tree across the stage when I heard the seat beside me fold down. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ13xFWArPH1

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“Here.” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡV6xBtoMoCt

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Nora put a bottle of water in my hand. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡp2nnwt0PAr

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“What took you so long?” 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhpzXa2e9Fo

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“Sorry,” she said with a smile. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMTgvGUlUd5

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I opened the bottle. Behind us, the hall doors closed. 89Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡgtaTbEymBR

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