Page 16 of Somewhere Only We Know

I smiled through my tears. ‘I haven’t gone yet.’

‘On that note, I guess we’d better find out all the places you’ll be going to.’ Kat nodded to the book, but still my fingers hesitated to open it.

‘I don’t know.’ I’d thought about this book so many times over the last six months. It had become a symbol of everything I regretted about my relationship with Brontë; most of all, for not sharing her excitement about her proposed trip. ‘I want to savour each page, read it as I go along.’

She looked doubtful. ‘You’re going to turn up at the airport with your suitcase, turn to page one and buy a ticket?’

I squirmed. ‘I don’t think I can be quite that spontaneous. How about we find out the first destination?’

‘If that’s what you want,’ Kat said, bemused, ‘go for it.’

Very slowly I opened the cover of Brontë’s Gap Year and read the first page.

The Adventures of Brontë April Jones, 2023. Beside me, Kat breathed a little sigh.

Can I show you, Mum? Brontë’s voice rang in my ears, and I tried hard to blot out my negative response. I should have looked then, but at least I was doing it now.

The next couple of pages consisted of her contact details, a packing list and a rundown of vaccinations she’d need.

‘I’ll read those later,’ I said, impatient to find out where she’d planned to go first.

The heading of the next page caused Kat and I to gasp aloud, and the words began to swim in front of me.

‘Will you read it?’ I asked shakily, pushing the book onto my sister’s lap.

Kat cleared her throat. ‘Sandwiched like the easy-going child between its two bossy siblings, China and India, is Nepal. It might only be small, but it’s home to the world’s tallest mountain, Mount Everest, and the backpacker’s favourite, Kathmandu. This is the perfect place—’

‘Stop!’ I said. ‘Save the rest, that’s all I need to know.’

‘Wow.’ Kat closed the book and handed it back to me. ‘So now what?’

‘Looks like I’m going to Nepal.’

‘Are you sure this is wise?’ She chewed her lip.

‘No, but I’m doing it anyway. Mum’s Gap Year is on.’

Brontë’s Gap Year

Nepal looks like the perfect place to kick off my adventure. Harry is jealous he can’t come with me for this bit. I wish he was, but you know what they say, absence makes the heart grow fonder (hopefully). Anyway, it’ll do me good to start off by myself, be independent. The landscape will be like nothing I’ve ever encountered. I want to get as close to Everest as possible. I went up Mount Snowdon on a school trip years ago and Mum was freaked out enough with that. God knows what she’s going to think about the Himalayas. There are also jungles, rivers, elephants, temples … loads of cool stuff. I’m probably going to be here for six weeks, more if I love it. I’ve never challenged myself physically, so this is my chance to find out how I cope when my body is pushed to its limits.

PACKING LIST

Still to be finalised but …

– Travel light! You’re going to be carrying all your own clothes for a whole year and you can buy stuff as you go.

– First Aid kit

– Paints, pens and notebook

– Toothbrush, toothpaste, hairbrush, sunscreen, moisturiser

– Hiking boots, trainers and flip-flops

– Sheet sleeping bag, a towel, a sarong

– One nice dress