Time To Leave

Kieran’s completely soaked pyjamas stuck to his skin. His hair was damp from the rain. I must have looked just as bad. Kieran waited for me to go to him. I crawled out of the playhouse. He drew me to my feet and hugged me tightly. ‘You scared me.’ The tremor in his voice told me he’d been crying. ‘I’m sorry.’ I stroked his back. When I pulled back, I saw dozens of uniformed security guards hovering nearby. ‘Come on, let’s go home.’ Kieran must have gone to the guardhouse after I ran out of the apartment. The security tape would tell him that I didn’t leave the gated community. The residential complex had twenty blocks, two gyms, a swimming pool, two playgrounds, a tennis court, a clubhouse and a multi-storey carpark. It must have taken them hours to search through the place. Kieran thanked the guards, who nodded at him and scattered. Carole was huddling with Mia on the sofa when we came back. Mia flinched. But Carole whispered something to the girl, who slowly rose to her feet. She wal