I start to scream at the same time as Noemia shouts, “Chansenga! Não!”

Then she jumps between me and Mucus, so that the knife catches her.

Rui must have seen what’s happening in his rear-view mirror, because he’s reversing fast, then jumping out of the car and sprinting towards us.

Confusion! Rui tackling Mucus, wrestling him to the ground, getting cut by the knife, but finally getting it away. The house’s outside lights all coming on, and Uncle Moreira and Aunt Paulina and the twins rushing out –

But all I can think of is Noemia, how she saved me from getting stabbed. Noemia, who I’ve kept calling a coward in my mind. Crazy-brave Noemia.

“Noemia!” I sob, seeing Rui and my uncle have got Mucus. “My God … You saved me.”

“I couldn’t let him hurt me. I’m fine …” Then she sees the blood pouring from her shoulder, staining her T-shirt. She sways, and Dino catches her, trying to stop the blood and saying her name over and over in this urgent, anguished way. It’s clear that he cares deeply for her.

The confusion continues until after the police have come and gone, and taken Mucus away. Aunt Paulina has cleaned and patched Noemia’s shoulder and Rui’s cuts, and we’re all in the house drinking coffee.

“Noemia,” I say in front of everyone, because I have to. “I’ve been a terrible, judgemental person to you ever since I got here, in things I’ve said and done and thought. Wrong things. You’re so brave, and I’m sorry.”

She just smiles at me in her mild way, and shakes her head.

“You came here to be safe,” she says. “I kept you safe.”

“I don’t deserve it,” I whisper.

“What will happen now?” she asks.

“We must wait to hear what the police say, and for news from South Africa,” Uncle Moreira says, and looks at me. “I think you cannot go home yet, Chansenga. I spoke to your parents and they think you must stay here until after this Nxumalo’s trial.”

“That’s fine,” I tell him, and I’m smiling.

I’ve got time to make it up to Noemia. But that’s not the only reason I’m happy to stay on.

There’s Rui, smiling beside me, looking at me with warmth and respect.

I feel like we’re at the start of something special, and I’m in no hurry to go home.

***

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