Pictures of Lily

you’re not. You’re getting older and doing grown-up things, she’s still in the prime of her youth. No wonder you’re attracted to that, but it’s wrong, mate. You’re going to have to stay as far away from her as possible until you get on that plane.’
    Nooooo! I want to scream.
    ‘I know,’ Ben responds softly. And then, with an air of finality: ‘I know.’
    When they’ve gone, I don’t know what to do with myself. He loves me! Didn’t he say that? Or maybe he didn’t go so far as to say that, but he has feelings for me! I knew it! I knew from that look in his eyes on New Year’s Day. He’s tried to overcome his emotions, but he can’t. And I don’t want him to – ever. Oh, I wish Dave hadn’t told him to stay away from me. What if he does? No, he can’t. I won’t let him. He might not do anything about this, but there’s no way I’m letting the love of my life get away. I’d never get over it.
    I’ve been absent for ages and Janine will wonder where I am soon enough, so I come out of my hiding-place and return with trepidation to the koala lofts. There’s a jackhammer inside my chest and even a pint of Prozac wouldn’t calm me down as I pick up a broom and continue mucking out the lofts. When Ben rounds the corner with his head down, my heart skips a beat and the world around me starts to spin. He looks up and almost reels backwards.
    ‘I thought you were off today,’ he says.
    I shake my head mutely before finding my voice. ‘I changed my shift.’
    ‘Oh, right.’ He’s not smiling at me. He has an odd expression on his face and it’s making me feel uneasy. ‘Well, I’m helping out with the wombats today so I’ll see you later.’
    ‘Okay,’ I say apprehensively. And then he’s gone.
    I don’t see him for the rest of the day. I’m always on the lookout, but he doesn’t come near the koala lofts, or me.
    At the end of the day I leave five minutes early to try and catch him at the gates. I have a sick feeling in my stomach that he’s going to cancel our fishing trip tomorrow. After a while I start to fear he’s already left so I wander slowly to the car park to see if his car is still there. It is. I stick to it like a limpet, hoping my mum will be late like she usually is when she comes to pick me up. Thankfully, Ben appears before she does.
    ‘Hi!’ He looks taken aback. ‘What are you still doing here?’
    ‘I’m waiting for my mum,’ I say. Then: ‘Look, I wanted to check we’re still on for fishing tomorrow.’
    He shifts on his feet. ‘I’m sorry, Lily, I’m not going to be able to make it after all.’
    ‘Why?’ I ask, panicked.
    ‘I don’t think I’m going to have the time.’
    ‘Oh no,’ I say quietly.
    ‘I’m leaving in a week and I’ve got so much to do. Monday’s my last day at work—’
    ‘Monday’s your last day at work?’ I can’t keep out the alarm. He nods. ‘I thought . . . I thought you’d be working longer,’ I stammer. But of course, why would he? He’s leaving anyway. He must have a ton of stuff to do. Why would he carry on working up until the last minute?
    ‘No.’ He shakes his head regretfully. ‘I’ve got to get my house packed up. Make it suitable for the next tenant.’
    ‘You’re not selling it? You said you’d never sell it.’
    He gives me a small smile. ‘No, I’m not selling it. I’m renting it out to some friends of friends.’
    My mum pulls around the corner in my car. I look towards it, anxiously.
    ‘Is that your mum?’ Ben asks, and I remember he hasn’t even met her yet.
    ‘Yeah.’
    She pulls up beside me and winds down the window. ‘Sorry I’m late!’ she shouts. ‘I brought your car so you can drive home.’
    ‘Thanks,’ I reply, but there’s no enthusiasm in my voice. She looks at Ben expectantly.
    ‘Hi,’ he says, stepping towards the car with an outstretched hand. ‘I’m Ben Whiting.’
    ‘Nice to meet you, Ben.’ Mum smiles up at him through her lashes.
    ‘I’d better get off,’ he says to me. ‘See you Monday. Nice to finally meet you, Cindy.’
    ‘The pleasure’s all mine.’ She flicks her hair back.
    I yank open the driver’s door and Mum stares up at me in alarm.
    ‘I’m driving – right?’ I say tersely.
    ‘Oh, yes.’ She comes to her senses and climbs out of the car. Ben, meanwhile, gets into his car and pulls out of the car park.
    ‘Who was that ?’ Mum asks the moment she’s shut the door.
    ‘Ben,’ I reply firmly.
    ‘The Ben who was