Page 29 of Sunrise By the Sea

A ball soared over Anita’s head and her face furrowed.

‘I bet Brad Pitt’s nine hundred kids don’t do that.’

‘I bet they do.’

‘I bet they do too.’

Marisa grinned, feeling a little better.

‘Okay, so, tell me,’ said Anita, returning to business, her dark gaze penetrating even through the screen.

‘Well, when she tries to leave the house, it turns out to be perched on a desert, surrounded by vast sandworms.’

‘I remember,’ said Anita.

‘That’s what it feels like to me. Like everything out there is a different world. That everything out there is not safe.’

‘But you know rationally that the world outside isn’t really sandworms?’

‘But so does Geena Davis. It doesn’t make any difference to whether or not she can get out of the house.’

‘So leaving the house for you . . .’

‘Is like braving sandworms.’

‘I get it,’ said Anita. ‘I do.’

There was a long pause.

‘Oh God, it’s just so stupid.’

‘Don’t. Don’t be ashamed. Don’t feel ashamed. You have nothing to be ashamed of.’

Marisa thought back to what she’d done to her neighbour.

‘I think I do.’

‘Can you make it better?’

‘He got so angry and upset.’

‘Well. Okay. Well. Start small. Sit on your step when the weather is nice. Wave at the worms.’

Marisa half-smiled at that. ‘I can try.’

‘You can.’

Marisa glanced at the time. It was almost up. A paper aeroplane soared above Anita’s head.

‘Creative,’ she said.

‘I think it’s made out of my passport application,’ said Anita. She smiled ruefully. ‘Okay, until next time. And Marisa . . .’

‘Uh-huh?’

‘Remember please – I know I keep telling you this. But remember this is an illness. And illnesses – many of them – they pass. Even without treatment. Bodies don’t stay sick for ever. Ask any doctor to tell you the truth, and they will; a lot of the time, they’re just waiting for bodies to heal themselves. And all it takes is time.’

Chapter 20

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