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Four
Heusedtohurtme.Dootherstuff.Intheend,Itoldmyaunt,an’shestartedhittingme.SaidIwaslying.Saidshe’dhavethepoliceonme.ButIwasn’tlying.SoIrunaway.Itwasmybirthday."
TheyhadreachedtheAlbertBridge,akitschmonumentspanningtheThames,joiningBatterseatothesouthwiththeChelseaendoftheEmbankment,abridgehungwiththousandsoftinywhitelights.
"Ididn’thaveanywheretogo.Anditwassocold,"saidAnaesthesia,andshestoppedagain."Isleptonthestreets.I’dsleepintheday,whenitwasabitwarmer,andwalkaroundatnight,justtokeepmoving.Iwasonlyeleven.Stealingbreadan’milkoffpeople’sdoorstepstoeat.HateddoingthatsoIstartedhangingaroundthestreetmarkets,takingtherottenapplesan’orangesan’thingspeoplethrewaway.ThenIgotreallysick.IwaslivingunderanoverpassinNottingHill.WhenIcometo,IwasinLondonBelow.Theratshadfoundme."
"Haveyouevertriedtoreturntoallthis?"heasked,gesturing.Quiet,warm,inhabitedhouses.Late-nightcars.Therealworld...sheshookherhead.Allfireburns,littlebaby.You’lllearn."Youcan’t.It’soneortheother.Nobodyevergetsboth."
"I’msorry,"saidDoor,hesitantly.Hereyeswerered,andshelookedasifshehadbeenvigorouslyblowinghernoseandscrubbinghertearsfromhereyesandcheeks.
Themarquishadbeenamusinghimselfwhilehewaitedforhertocollectherselfbyplayingagameofknuckleboneswithsomeoldcoinsandboneshekeptinoneofthemanypocketsofhiscoat.Helookedupathercoldly."Indeed?"
