Us in a baby’s room. Marley rocking our newborn daughter to sleep.
More images flash and pop. Kids growing up. Birthday parties. Backyard barbecues. School plays. Football games.
Marley’s eyes take them all in, hope in her gaze. Hope. I can work with that.
“Those are memories just waiting to be made,” I promise her. “You created that dark place because you think it’s what you deserve. It’s not, Marley. You deserve a good life. A happy life. I promise to try every day to give that to you, to build that with you, together.”
I lean in, leaving just a breath of space between us. Will she close the gap? It’s up to her. I shut my eyes and wait, hoping and praying that she’s heard me. That’s when I feel her lips on mine. Relief makes me weak.
I kiss her back, then open my eyes, surprised to find she’s crying, tears rolling down her cheeks.
“Marley? What’s—”
A light rises behind me. I feel its warmth through my shirt as it washes over Marley’s face. She stares into the light, a sob escaping her lips.
Dread creeps up the back of my neck as I turn to see what Marley sees.
There, standing right in front of that vast field of Stargazer lilies, is Laura.
She’s backlit by some otherworldly light, standing in a glowing circle, like the sun during an eclipse. She raises her hand as if reaching for something. With a sinking feeling, I know exactly what she’s reaching for.
Marley.
Marley pulls herself from my arms.
“No. Marley, no. Don’t do this,” I beg, the breath leaving my lungs in a plea. “Please, Marley. Stay.”
She looks up at me, the green in her eyes lighting up the hazel like fireworks. I stare, trying to memorize her face, her eyes, because I’m so afraid this is the last time I’m going to see her.
She knows what I’m thinking. Her fingers trace my scar, my brow, my cheek, and come to rest against my lips.
“I love you, Kyle Lafferty,” she whispers fervently. “I will love you forever. Our story will live on forever.”
She presses her lips to mine, then says, “But I need to do this.”
She pulls away from me again.
“No!” I try to run after her, but my feet won’t obey. I watch helplessly as she walks toward Laura.
“Marley, stop. You don’t have to do this. Stay with me! Marley!”
My words come out in harsh, broken sobs. She gets closer to Laura and takes her outstretched hand. I want to close my eyes so I don’t have to see her go, but I can’t. If this is my last moment with her, I want my eyes to be open. I want to see it.
Marley looks back at me, tears flowing from her eyes, as if she can hear my heart breaking. But then she looks to Laura, who wraps an arm around her waist.
Marley, my Marley, gives me one last smile… then follows Laura into the lilies.
“No!” The cry that comes from my throat sounds inhuman.
My shout echoes around me until it becomes the sound of the beeping hospital monitor. I’m there, at Marley’s bedside, my hand around hers. I look at everyone, all of them waiting desperately for some good news, but I have none to give.
“She’s not… she’s not coming back.”
“No.” Catherine hurries to the bed, runs her hands along Marley’s face. “Marley, baby. You wake up right now.”
But the girl in the bed doesn’t move.
Kimberly covers her mouth and presses her head against Sam’s shoulder, both of them looking at me with so much pity and love that I have to turn away.
I feel Mom’s hand on my shoulder, offering me any strength she can lend me.
And the monitor beeps… beeps… beeeeeeeeeps.…
Flatline.
Catherine’s anguished scream rips through us all, the sound finding a home in the shattered remnants of my heart.
Marley. Gone.
Dr. Benefield shoves us all away from the bed as she starts to call the code blue. But… she hesitates. Catherine yells, “Do something! You have to—”
Dr. Benefield holds up her hand in a gesture so sure and confident that we all freeze. She nods toward the bed, toward Marley’s hand…
… where the fingertip monitor now lies in Marley’s palm, her fingers closing around it as we watch in disbelief. My eyes fly to her face, afraid to hope.
Then her lids flutter and open, those beautiful hazel eyes searching for and finding mine.
“I had to say goodbye. To Laura.”
My knees buckle and I collapse onto her bed.
Catherine smothers her face with kisses. Marley gives her a long look. “I’m back, Mom. I’m back.”