But again, it’s your choice. Either way, I’ll accept your decision.”

I sit back, watching as the steam seeps right out of her, watching as her aura deflates and settles like a week-old helium balloon.

“How long have you been like this?” she finally asks.

And when my eyes meet hers, I realize she thinks I’ve always been like this—that I was born a freak. Figuring it must be the reason I survived the accident when the rest of my family didn’t. Though I’m quick to deflect that.

“I did die in the accident,” I say. “I had what’s called a near-death experience, though I think the term’s a little wonky since there was nothing near about it. Anyway, Munoz probably knows more about all that than I do. He’s read up on it quite a bit.” I look at them, seeing her shoot him an inquiring glance, which he answers with a nod and a shrug. “Anyway, instead of crossing the bridge to the other side along with Mom and Dad and Buttercup, I chose to linger in Summerland, in this amazingly beautiful field. And that’s what my soul was doing when Damen found my body by the car and made me drink the elixir that brought me to life.”

“And Riley?” Sabine leans forward, her eyes wide, assuming the worst.

“Riley got stuck for a while.” I squirm.

“Stuck?”

I sigh. “Stuck between here and Summerland. She started visiting me back when I was in the hospital. Then, when we moved here, she used to drop by the house nearly every day until I convinced her to cross the bridge and move on. And though I think she might visit me in my dreams every now and then, I haven’t been able to see her since. I can’t see the ones who’ve crossed over. Their energy vibrates too fast. Though a friend of mine used to see her…” I pause, remembering how Jude tried to teach me to see her too, but to no avail. “And he says she says she’s just fine. Actually, he says she’s better than fine. She’s happy. Mom and Dad and Buttercup are happy too. Apparently they feel more alive than ever.” I look at her. “You know, just because you can’t see them, doesn’t mean they no longer exist. The soul is eternal. It’s the only true immortality there is.”

I don’t know which part of my speech finally got to her, but the next thing I know Sabine is sobbing into Munoz’s T-shirt. Her shoulders violently shaking as he rubs his hand over her chin-length blond hair and down the back of her blouse, whispering softly, providing comfort, assurance, until she starts to collect herself and is ready to face me again.

I sit quietly, knowing exactly how she feels. Remembering all too well how I first reacted when I saw my ghostly little sister standing before me—how I denied it was real. And how I treated Damen that day in the parking lot at school when he first told me the truth of my existence—how I chose to banish him from my life, to send him away with cruel, fear-driven words rather than face a truth I felt so completely unprepared to handle.

We’re not so different, Sabine and me.

I know what it’s like to have everything you believe turned upside down.

So after a while I say, “I’m really sorry to just spring this on you. I know it’s a lot to digest. But I just wanted you to know before—”

She lifts her head, her eyes bleary, teary, as she turns to face me.

“—I just wanted you to know before I return to normal again.”

She blinks, shakes her head, and mumbles, “What?” Swiping a sleeve across her face when she adds, “I don’t understand.”

I take a deep breath and gaze down at my feet, stalling for a moment, gathering my words, before I return my gaze to hers. “To be honest, I’m not sure that I understand either. It’s such a long story, and there’s so much to explain… but it’s not like the details are all that important anyway. I just thought, well, I just hoped that if I came clean about who I am now, then maybe, when I’m no longer like this, we can still hang out together. You know, without all the yelling and fighting and name-calling. I mean, if you want. It’s pretty much up to you. I promise to respect whatever you decide.”

Sabine rises from the couch, her arms outstretched as she starts to move toward me, but I’m faster than she is—so much faster that I’m huddled against her well before she can even clear the corner of the coffee table.

And it feels so good to be back that I can’t help but cry too. The two of us turning into a wet, soggy, over-apologetic mess until I remember Munoz and swipe my hand across my eyes as I say, “Hey, is there anything you guys want?” I glance between them, adding, “I mean, you saw what I can do, all the things I’m capable of. So, with that in mind, what’ll it be? A new car? A vacation house in some exotic location? Backstage passes to Bruce Springsteen?” I wiggle my brows at Munoz, knowing what a big fan he is.

But they both shake their heads.

“Are you sure?” I frown, desperately wanting to give them something. “I mean, I’m not sure if I’ll still be capable of all this once I… after I go back to how I was before. I may lose all of my powers, or at least some of my powers. Which means this could be your last chance.”

Sabine returns to Munoz and I watch as she places her hand on his shoulder and says, “What more could I possibly want when I have everything I could ever dream of right here?”

And that’s when I see it.

That’s when I see the brand-new sparkling engagement ring she wears on her left ring finger.