Page 35 of Meet Me in Berlin

Chandice scrolls some more. ‘This page isn’t that old. You looked for her in the past year and a half?’

I shake my head. ‘Not since I’ve been with Eva.’

Chandice turns her phone screen to me. ‘That her?’

A tiny image stares back at me from across the room. I can’t see the facial features clearly, but the long, honey-coloured hair is achingly familiar. I jump up and snatch Chandice’s phone, zooming in on the tiny image. ‘Holy fucking shit. It’s her.’

‘No way!’ Chandice and Jaz both say.

‘It’s totally her.’ I fall back onto the couch, my legs weak.

‘My phone, please,’ Chandice says. ‘God knows what you’ll do with it.’

‘Give me a look at her first,’ Mum says.

I throw the phone to Mum and snatch up mine, typing ‘Holly Craddock’ into Instagram. Jaz squishes up beside me.

Mum lets out a heavy sigh. ‘You’re a goner if you ever meet up with her again.’

Chandice grabs her phone from Mum and squeezes in on the other side of me.

An account called Holly Craddock Photography shows up in the search; the profile pic looks like street art of some kind. My finger hovers over the username.

‘What you waiting for?’ Jaz says.

I glance at her. ‘Photography … it’s got to be her, yeah?’

‘I’d say so, mate. Want me to do it?’

I nod and pass Jaz the phone.

Chandice rests her chin on my shoulder and watches as Jaz clicks the username. The bio doesn’t say much – just that photography is her passion – and it’s a personal account, so there’s no business contact information.

I retrieve my phone and scroll. The grid is full of incredible, arty shots. I click into the first image and start scrolling. ‘It’s all Melbourne,’ I say, skimming the captions. ‘She’s still there.’ I keep going until I find a photo of Holly and the shock of seeing her up close sucks the air out of me. She’s laughing into the camera, eyes crinkled, sunny smile, and my body aches with the memory of her.

‘Ooh, she’s well pretty, mate,’ Jaz says. ‘No wonder you’ve never forgotten her.’

I reach for my water and take a huge gulp. She was so much more than that. She was smart and fun and kind and natural. But most of all, she made my heart thump every time I looked at her, in a way I never knew was possible. ‘I was such a fucking idiot.’

‘You have to message her,’ Jaz says.

‘What did I just tell you?’ Mum says. ‘You are not doing that until you sort things with Eva.’

I let out a frustrated sigh. ‘I won’t, Mum. Don’t fret.’ I look at the profile again, but the message icon isn’t there. ‘She’s got her messages on private anyway.’

‘Good,’ Mum says, leaning forward to slice up the sponge cake. ‘Now pipe down, you lot, and let me catch up on Corrie and enjoy my overpriced cake.’

Jaz shuffles back to the other end of the sofa and I scroll through image after image of arty street shots, heritage buildings, random people, until I come across a photo of Holly all cosy with a good-looking lad called Tom and my stomach plummets.

Chapter 10

Holly, Melbourne

Caleb’s bar is busy and I’ve just circled the crowd, testing out my new flash unit under the dim lighting. ‘How good is this?’ I say to Nat, topping up my wine glass from our shared bottle.

Nat nods as she swallows her mouthful of wine. ‘It’s excellent you’ve got a paid photography gig, and this wine is delicious.’ The pile of thin silver bangles on her wrist slips along her arm as she drinks.

‘I think Caleb will like these.’ I show her the camera screen and flick through some images – wine bottles, charcuterie boards, guests captured mid-chat.

---