Page 80 - The Midnight Library

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Bright enough to see for ever.

is was troubling, but it was – aer all – just a poem. Scrolling through

some emails, she found one to Charlotte – a ceilidh band flautist with earthy
humour who’d been Nora’s only friend at String eor y before she had
moved back up to Scotland.

Hi Charl!
Hope all is fine and dandy.
Pleased the birthday do went well. Sorry I couldn’t be there. All is well in sunny Sydney.
Have finally moved into the new place. It’s right near Bronte Beach (beautiful). Lots of
neighbourhood cafes and charm. I also have a new job.
I go swimming in a saltwater pool every morning and every evening I drink a glass of
Australian wine in the sunshine. Life is good!
Address:
2/29 Darling Street
Bronte
NSW 2024
AUSTRALIA
Nora
X

Something was rotten. e tone of vague, distant perkiness, as if writing to a
long-lost aunt. e Lots of neighbourhood cafes and charm, as though it was a
TripAdvisor review. She didn’t speak to Charlotte – or indeed anyone – like

that.
ere was also no mention of Izzy. Have finally moved into the new place.
Was that we have or I have? Charlotte knew of Izzy. Why not mention her?

She would soon find out. Indeed, twenty minutes later she was standing in
the hallway of her apartment, staring at four bags of rubbish that needed
taking out. e living room looked small and depressing. e sofa tatty and
old. e place smelt slightly mouldy.
ere was a poster on the wall for the video game Angel and a vape pen

on a coffee table, with a marijuana leaf sticker on it. A woman was staring at
a screen, shooting zombies in the head.
e woman had short blue hair and for a moment Nora thought it might

be Izzy.
‘Hi,’ Nora said.
e woman turned. She was not Izzy. She had sleepy eyes and a vacant
expression, as if the zombies she was shooting had slightly infected her. She