Contents
Chapter 9
Overview
In a flashback a week before GCSEs, Ellie and boyfriend Theo daydream about summer, hinting at using Ellie’s grandmother’s cottage together. Ellie’s buoyant optimism and appetite for freedom contrast sharply with her impending disappearance, underscoring what she hoped for and what was lost.
Summary
In a “Then” scene set a week before GCSEs, Ellie relaxes with her boyfriend Theo in her bedroom, taking a break from revision. They banter about summer plans, with Ellie craving adventure while Theo jokes about doing nothing.
Ellie presses for experiences that feel like freedom—paragliding, long days without study—and mentions that her mother has offered her grandmother’s cottage for a few days. Theo eagerly suggests going just the two of them, and Ellie agrees, signaling a deepening intimacy and independence.
Surrounded by sunlight, pollen, and the family cat, Ellie feels thrilled by the promise of summer, imagining books, picnics, fairs, and parties. The scene closes on her impatience for exams to end and her readiness to “fly,” capturing the hope and momentum that precede her disappearance.
Who Appears
- Ellie MackTeenager on the cusp of GCSEs, eager for freedom; plans summer adventures and a cottage stay.
- Theo GoodmanEllie’s boyfriend; prefers a laid-back summer but excited to visit the cottage with Ellie.