Elizabeth Haynes

Bess comes up the stairs and looks almost startled to see Rachel there.

People make day trips to the Isle of May,

I absolutely loved You, Me & the Sea.

,’ she calls, knowing she’s probably gree

The boat rounds the south end of the island and chugs through a narrow channel between the rocks. The swell calms and it feels almost peaceful here, the wash of the b

Through the thickly salt-encrusted window at the front of the cabin she can see a concrete jetty

Women like to talk about girl code and sisterhood and fixing each other’s crowns. Women don’t mean to hurt each other, but they still do it. They’d almost rather hurt each other than hurt the bastard who caused the situation in the first place. That’s what love does to you

She can see more of the island now. The lighthouse is on the nearest side. Further along and about half a mile back is the small bird observatory that houses birdwatchers, and occasionally other people: ecology students and scientists. Her job will be to take care of the observatory, to clean it, and change the beds once a week ready for the next lot.

The swell calms and it feels almost peaceful here, the wash of the boat causing huge pads of seaweed to rise and fall without breaking a wave.

Before that, it’s like something outside you, something unexpected: you watch yourself getting angry and you’re almost surprised 8by it, because that’s not you.