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But can I eat breakfast first?”
    Mia frowned again. “Okay. But hurry.”
    I distracted Mia with a TV cartoon about ducks and lions and tipped cereal into a bowl.
    â€œMorning, Alex.” Mum kissed the top of my head and weaved around me to the coffee machine. “Sleep okay?”
    â€œI guess.”
    â€œYou owe me.” She reached for a mug, raising it as a question.
    â€œI’m right, thanks. Why do I owe you?”
    â€œBecause Mia would have had you up at six-thirty if I hadn’t stopped her.”
    â€œThanks.”
    â€œAlex, the essay. Have you–?”
    â€œDone and emailed last night. Thus endeth my punishment.” I scooped a spoonful of cereal into my mouth.
    â€œYour father and Ethan are doing an extra session after rowing this morning.” Back to me, Mum made her coffee.
    Of course they were – sucking up so Dad could replace the rowing captain with Ethan.
    â€œI have to pick up Harvey from rowing at ten,” continued Mum, “so I can give you a lift to the pool.”
    â€œThat’d be good. We’ll walk home though.”
    Mum turned to face me, eyes solemn. “Alex, about yesterday. The essay …”
    I slammed the spoon into the bowl. “I don’t want to talk about it.”
    Mum sighed.

    Mia slipped her small hand into mine as Mum drove away from the rec centre. Everything – essays, Dad, De Jong, Ethan’s crap, Bash and Coop hanging out with Amado – slipped from my shoulders and fell as grey sludge to the gutter.

19
N EUROSURGERY H IGH D EPENDENCY U NIT , P RINCE W ILLIAM H OSPITAL
    â€œHow’s it going, champ?”
    It’s easier to open my eyes today. The physio – Ben? Andy? I can’t remember – is by my bed. His thick neck, rounded biceps and broad chest scream health and fitness. I barely feel alive.
    I raise my hand to acknowledge him.
    â€œWe’re sitting up today.” He rubs his hands together. “Slow and easy, champ. Sing out if you’re dizzy or in pain.”
    We’re
sitting up? What he means is, I’m sitting up – something I took for granted until now. “Yep,” I croak.
    The physio whips back the bedspread and sheets before I have time to adjust the hospital gown. I fumble to pull it down. As he leans forwards to help me, I strain to read the identity tag around his neck. Brent.
    Brent slips his hand behind my shoulders. “Nice and easy …”

20
A LEX
    â€œNice and easy, Mia. Relax.” Mia became heavier in my arms. “Attagirl. Now, let your legs float.” As her toes bobbed near the surface, I glanced at Tilly, who stood on the pool deck, watching.
    She smiled and gave me the thumbs up. “Now move backwards, but stay squatting.”
    â€œAre you kidding?”
    â€œJust do it, Alex.” Mia’s toes bubbled the water as we moved around the pool.
    â€œShe’s a natural, like you, Alex.” Tilly waved before moving to patrol another area of the pool. Lifeguards have to keep moving around the pool, but every few minutes, Tilly would come back to us.
    When I promised to teach Mia to swim, I hadn’t actually thought about how I’d do it. Sure, I can swim and I’m a lifeguard, but that’s a whole different thing to being a swimming teacher. Lucky for me, Tilly was rostered to work.
    Tilly had been on the front desk when Mia and I arrived at the pool, so I started by showing Mia stuff I’d seen swim teachers do. Splashing, blowing bubbles and kicking. All easy for Mia. Before long, she was nagging me to take her into the bigger pool.
    That’s when Tilly came onto the pool deck for her turn to supervise. Tilly standing over us, calf muscles stretching as she rocked on her toes, scanning the pool made concentrating tough. Her shorts and runners without socks made her tanned legs look even longer.
    Somehow though, I pulled it together and followed her instructions. That’s why