We stood like that in the doorway of a yellow room for I should think thirty seconds, which is a long time for two people to stand with their heads touching and nobody talking.

And I need to put down exactly what I said, because I have been through it many times and I want to know whether I got it wrong.

I said together. Twice.

I said it with my hands on his face and I meant every syllable.

What I did not say was: if anybody ever tells you anything about those girls, you come to me first.

It would not have occurred to me.