“If only this world had shown me a little more mercy I wouldn’t be stuck here with you” she says and cuffs me gently on the side of my head. She says it with a smile as if it is a joke and her friends look at each other and I can see the unspoken question in their eyes - ‘is this for real or a bad joke?’ But they say nothing and Mum laughs hugging me close to her, I know the drill and I smile at her loyally.

Because she is my Mum and I love her. I don’t want them to think badly of her. But inside I am shaking because it is time to go home now and at home no one is on my side and she won’t have to pretend any more.

She ruffles my hair and there is a steely grip on my shoulder as she says ‘Come on baby time to go home’.