Everyone knows her name but not her story - her forever unwritten story. She’s just Nancy. Nancy the swing girl and nothing more. Nancy the lost girl and nothing more. Nancy the dead girl and nothing more. She’s just Nancy.

I was staring in anticipation at the toaster whilst my Mum frantically ordered people around exclaiming that we were going to be late even though we never were and Nancy stood proudly against the fireplace in her perfect uniform as Dad clicked the camera. It was such a good day, everything seemed perfect. Her beautiful blonde curls trailed down her back erratically as her rosey cheeks lit up with a smile whilst she jumped up and down almost high enough to go through the roof. In between innocent giggles she managed a “yay let’s go” as she skipped out of the door and I followed beaming with the joy she radiated. Our parents stood at the door waving goodbye and shouting things like “have fun”, “we love you” and “take care” but the most foolish one was “see you soon” - those are the words of an unexpecting ,stupid family. Those three words cycle over and over and over in my head; What if we didn’t just leave? What if she stayed? What if she was still here? It felt as if the world was pushing down on my shoulders and guilt consumed me from head to toe. What if I just said no?

“Bessie Boo pweaseeee may I go on the swing”

“Yes”

I jerked upright trying to steady my breath as a waterfall of tears streamed down my face. “Calm down. It’s okay” I whisper as I pull the covers over me, slowly closing my eyes. It was no use there she was, clear as day. Nancy. She looked at me longingly as she sobbed pointing at me angrily. My blood curderled as she screamed “YOU DID THIS!! YOU!! IT WAS YOU!!”

It was my fault.

No it wasn’t, it’s okay.

She’s dead because of me, I killed her.

No you didn’t, Elizabeth.

Elizabeth breathe,it’s all going to be okay.

I had run to keep up with her she was so excited. She skipped and hopped and laughed in the sun so keen to finally be big enough for school. She was going so fast we were set to be early so as we passed the playground she looked at me with puppy dog eyes holding hands together in plee. I sighed. “Okay okay but only for a minute” “YAY YOU’RE THE BEST” she shouted as she belined for the slide. Birds chimed in rhythm with the wind as she came leaping over “Bessie Boo pweaseeee may I go on the swing” “Yes okay hold on” I giggled running after her. She couldn’t barely contain herself as she perched onto the swing. “Hold on tight”

I pushed her and she taunted “harder harder”

I pushed her again.

I will never forget the sound that came out of such a small girl in that moment. I will never forget the fear that washed across her face in that moment. I will never forget that moment.

I pushed her and she flew forwards as the chain shattered and she was left bloodied and battered in heap on the fence. I will never forget my desperate screams as I frantically reached for me phone dialling 999 as fast as my finger could move but in that moment I knew. I knew she was lifeless as the fence impaled her pure, kind heart. I was lost and broken and distraught. I couldn’t move once the emergency services arrived. I was frozen in horror and unbareable pain. What had I done? I was a murderer.

It was dark and I lay in a blue bed as this excruciating beeping sound droned on and on and on. I was about to loose it but then I realised I wasn’t in my bedroom or my house. Where the hell am I? I immediately shot up and began shouting “Where the hell am I? Let me out of here right now! Mum! Dad! Omg Nancy!” A pretty girl wearing some sort of dress barged in and I’ve never seen someone’s jaw drop so far as she gasped stopping in her tracks for a moment.

She pressed a big red button whilst shouting out the door and down the corridor:

“It’s room 99, she’s awake”.