Page 51 of The Second Chance Bus Stop

J o nk o ping

It’s not him. I tried to convince myself that Mum was wrong but she won’t be moved. The name change record had come through

when I had just left Sophia and the best morning of my life. Goosebumps were replaced with other goose bumps, and I thought

that was it. I’d found him.

‘Are you sure?’ I ask Zara an hour later.

‘Positive. There are times she knows exactly what she’s talking about, and this is one of them.’

‘The name change made sense. Everything made sense. He lived in London during the time frame, he was the right age.’

‘So what’s the plan now? I assume you’re not heading home yet?’

‘No,’ I say, part answering the question with Sophia in mind. ‘I... I think I found him. He’s the only option left. I just

need to be certain and have enough information for Mum when I break the news to her that he’s passed away.’

‘I’m sorry he’s not alive. But she will be able to handle it. She’s stronger than you think.’

But she wasn’t always strong, was she? When the day was over and she was too tired to cook dinner and would sit in her room crying and everyone left, I was still there, watch ing her unhappiness envelop her.

My life’s mission became keeping Mum happy, being her reason to move forward and choose joy. Zara should know this.

Maybe moving in with Mum was an attempt to keep being her reason? To once more give her enough to keep moving forward? To

finally lose the anxiety I’ve carried? If I can make her safe and happy enough, then I’ll have done my job. That was more

important than anything else. More important than living. But time is running out for us because I won’t have the luxury of

talking things out with her before long. To find answers to all the questions I still have for her.

Except Mum might have given me a chance to do just that. She sent me here, to Sweden.

‘I’m going to talk to Sophia. This is my last hope.’