Every Brilliant Thing

You’re seven years old. Mum’s in hospital. Dad says she’s "done something stupid". She finds it hard to be happy. You start a list of everything that’s brilliant about the world. Everything worth living for. You leave it on her pillow. You know she’s read it because she’s corrected your spelling. What is it like to live with a parent who doesn’t want to be here? Is it your fault? Can you do anything to make it better?