MMsMorgan knocked. No one answered immediately. She knocked again and introduced herself through the door. They heard movement inside, followed by a child’s cough. A woman’s voice attempted to say something but stopped. A few seconds later, the door opened only a fraction, held by a chain. Mr Mrshan looked out from inside. She had been helping the family while Lucas checked on his mother in the bedroom. Once she understood who the visitors were, her expression tightened. “Is Lucas in trouble?” she asked. Ms Morgan explained that they were concerned about his well-being and needed to speak with him and his mother. MrsMrsan looked behind her. “He’s here. But it’s not a good day.” Mr Mrce stepped forward. “We only need a few minutes.” Mrs. examined his face. “Are you the teacher?” He nodded. She seemed to recognise him from something Lucas had said, because her expression changed. “Then perhaps you should be very careful about what you say to that boy.” Before Mr Vance could respond, she unfastened the chain and opened the door.
The first thing he noticed was the cold. It came from the flat in a steady current, colder than the stairwell and entirely wrong for a December afternoon. The second thing was the silence. There was no television, no music, and no sound from a game console. From somewhere deeper inside came a woman’s laboured attempt to speak, followed by a young man’s quiet reassurance. Ms Morgan removed her coat as they entered. MMrVance kept his on. The sitting room was small and crowded with practical objects. A child’s coat hung over the back of a chair to dry. Towels were folded on a radiator that wasn’t warm. A half-empty packet of nappies sat beside a stack of library books and a bottle of children’s liquid medicine. On the table, beneath a mug of cold tea, lay a handwritten schedule listing appointments, medication reminders, nursery arrangements, and the times when various carers were expected. Mr Mrance recognised Cas’s handwriting immediately. It was the same careful script he’d once praised in mathematics class.
Mrs Khan called toward the bedroom. “Lucas? You’ve got visitors from school.” There was a pause, then the sound of something being placed on a bedside table. Lucas appeared in the doorway wearing dark trousers and the faded T-shirt he used at work. He looked even younger without his school uniform. His hair was damp at the temples, and there was a fresh scrape across one knuckle. He stopped when he saw MMrVance. For an instant, the colour drained from his face. “Sir?” he said. Then he looked at MMsMorgan, and his expression changed from confusion to alarm. “Is something wrong? Have I been expelled?” MsMsorgan stepped forward. “No, Lucas. We’re here because we’re worried about you.” He glanced at Mr Vance. “I can explain the test. I did the questions again. I know I fell asleep, but—” From the bedroom came a strained sound. Lucas turned immediately. “Mum, I’m coming.” He looked back at the visitors, torn between embarrassment and urgency. “Can you just wait a minute? She’s trying to eat.”
MMrVance stood where he was as Lucas returned to the bedroom. Through the partly open door, he saw Eleanor lying in an adjustable bed provided through community services. Her right arm rested against a pillow, and her expression showed the effort required to coordinate even simple movements. Lucas sat beside her, holding a small bowl of soft food prepared according to her swallowing guidance. He helped her eat at an appropriate pace, checking that she was comfortable and allowing her time between mouthfuls. Sophie sat on a chair nearby beneath a blanket, clutching a stuffed rabbit and watching her brother. Every few minutes, she coughed. Lucas paused to offer her water and check whether she needed anything. Nothing about the scene was theatrical. There were no dramatic speeches, no sudden revelations, and no music swelling beneath an emotional moment. There was only an exhausted eleven-year-old moving between two people who depended on him, performing familiar tasks with the practised attention of someone who had been doing them for months.
