Honeysuckle, roses pink & white, periwinkles, syringas, red hot pokers, those yellow flowers - the ground is smothered. Fruit trees with promise of harvest, the hot lake & pools, even the homely clothes-prop in the lush grass - & more mimosa. The birds are magical. I feel I cannot leave but pluck the honeysuckle, & the splashes of light lie in the pine wood.

Cherish your solitude. Take trains by yourself to places you have never been. Sleep out alone under the stars. Learn how to drive a stick shift. Go so far away that you stop being afraid of not coming back. Say no when you don’t want to do something. Say yes if your instincts are strong, even if everyone around you disagrees. Decide whether you want to be liked or admired. Decide if fitting in is more important than finding out what you’re doing here.