Book One, Chapter 5 Summary

Theo recounts the death of his daughter Natalie, aged fifteen months, in 1994. He was on his way to college from his home in Lathbury Road. He was backing the car out of the driveway when he ran over a soft bump, which turned out to be his daughter.

He has omitted the inquest from his memory, but is sure one of the findings would have been than he left the front door open. He can't remember whether he was supposed to be keeping an eye on Natalie, or whether she was supposed to be with Helena, his wife. What he does remember is the sensation that came over him five seconds before hearing his wife begin to scream, which was a horrible knowing sensation. He recalls his neighbor's angry face at the car window, yelling at him to get...