" What does that mean? Obviously we are separate people." But you know we're also the same." I said to her."Which brings us to our current conundrum. ...he idea of string theory isnor far off. Each of the universes are tethered to get her by stringscalled the Oster. Each string is tied to a different world and they allconnect back to a single world, usually. The main world, called theDirective, collects life energy through means of the Oster and itsustains all world's through the multiverse.. She shut herself in her private room and lay face down on her bed crying into the pillow. Crying because of the almost unbearable stinging emanating from her nether regions but also because of the humiliation of knowing that all the other two hundred or so girls in the school would be aware that she had had to bend over for Miss Armitage's cane.After a while, Suneeta's crying had been reduced to sobbing and then sniffling and her arse was still on fire but, perhaps strangely or perhaps not, so. ‘It’s like seeing a ghost. How can I compete with a dead woman?’ She seemed to be talking to herself and I shook my head, her touch making me feel uncomfortable. ‘I’m not pregnant, you know.’ She looked at me and the hard veneer seemed to fall away. ‘In fact, I can’t have children. I found that out long ago. And you know the stupid thing? I even pretended to take the pill so Daniel wouldn’t know! Can you believe that?’ I gazed at her in disbelief. ‘You’re not pregnant?’ She let out a hard. And you just walk away. 27 June I gaze down the garden path and across to the trees beyond the pond. Sunlight and birdsong. I try to feel something. Anything. There’s no rage left, no anger. But there is nothing to take its place either. I try to hold that thought but I can’t. I know I need you to know that, but helpless, I know it’s unlikely I’ll recall it later. Still staring at the trees, I feel I ought to be responding to the beauty around me. I can see it’s a pretty place, a lovely.