Every Time a Bell Rings. Carmel Harrington

that I can decorate my bedroom any colour I want.’

      Green. He’ll pick green, because that’s his favourite colour.

      I hear Tess sigh and the click of her lighter as she ignites another cigarette.

      I’m losing him. Tess knows it. Jim just doesn’t know it yet.

      ‘How long do we have left?’ I ask. I’m surprised that my voice sounds okay, considering the fact that I want to cry.

      ‘You make it sound so dramatic, Belle,’ Jim laughs at me. ‘I’m just going to live somewhere else, that’s all. Nothing else is going to change. We’ll be best friends forever, you’ll see.’