The message beeping on her console was from Emilia, her older sister. The Atlantis was so far out that a live call wasn’t possible. That also meant there was no way to get home. That was okay, it had to be. Emilia was there with Ava and their mother. She sat at her desk for a long while before composing a return message. Then she took herself off duty for a few days.

She pulled out a crate, spreading paper, bits and bobs, photos, ribbons, glitter, and glue absolutely everywhere. She sat on a floor pillow and soon things were, as she had warned Gravel once, everywhere and she was covered.

O’Farrell