Evelyn

Back Then...

She died holding my hand. That's the last memory I had of my sister. She was happy that I had been there with her. She died happily. That's what everyone told me. It sounded so incredibly stupid. Death is never happy. At least that's what I believed until she came back. They tell you that death is permanent, they lied. 

2 years later on a cold stormy day,  I saw her again. I had just had a particularly hard day at work and was beyond ready to go home. I was walking down 9th street, soaked to the bone because I had left my umbrella at the office. I accidentally ran into a man and looked up to apologize and there she was, standing in the distance. At first, I thought it was a trick of light reflecting from the rainwater. I wouldn't have been surprised because I carried the weight of missing her with me every day. I stood incredibly still, shocked. Then she moved toward me, a smile on her face. "Evelyn?" I asked. She nodded her head and opened her arms to hug me.

Now…

I stand outside the small tea shop, the sun warming my back. My stomach is doing somersaults. It doesn't matter how often we meet up, it makes me nervous every single time. What if I disappoint her? I know that’s a stupid thought but how often to you get the chance to talk to your dead sister? For me once every month. I pull open the door and listen to the familiar chime of the little bell. I spot Evelyn sitting in our usual spot at the back. The sun makes her golden blonde hair seem brighter and makes her hazel eyes burn. She’s absolutely breathtaking, even in death. When she sees me, she smiles and beckons me forward. I sit down and pick up the menu, as if I don’t already know what I want. Evelyn clicks her tongue and shakes her head in amusement. She knows that I do this so that the waitress will wait to come take our order and I can spend a few more blissful moments with her. 

She taps the table to get my attention and widens her eyes. That’s the one drawback of this, she can’t speak. I don’t know why. In all honesty seeing her is enough. She points to me and it takes me a moment to realize what she’s asking.

“Oh!” I exclaim. “I got it. I got the promotion.”

She makes jazz hands and reaches over to hug me. We both for a moment forget that it won’t work. I continue to explain my day to her, trying to pretend I’m unbothered by what just happened. Soon the waitress walks over.

“What can I get you today miss?”

I wonder why she never addresses the both of us. “Two green teas please and a cinnamon streusel muffin.” I say.

“Coming right up.” 

When I turn back to Evelyn she has a sad look on her face.

“What’s wrong?” I ask

She won’t meet my gaze.

“Evelyn?”

“Our time is coming to an end.” She replies.

I stop breathing for a moment. Did she just speak? I sit for a moment with my mouth wide open. “You can talk?” I whisper.

“Yes but only because this is it for us.”

“What are you talking about?”

“You’re a smart girl Emi. There’s no way that you’ve believed this was real.”

I feel as though my world is coming crashing down all around me and I’m powerless to stop it. 

“No. It has to be. We’ve been seeing each other for months. This is real!” I didn’t mean to raise my voice but no one seems to notice. Weird.

“Emi what I’m about to tell you is going to be overwhelming at first but I need you to listen okay?”

I nod my head, panic squeezes my heart.

“You’re dying. You’ve been in a coma for seven months now but mom and dad haven’t had the strength to unplug you. I was sent to you to help you complete your transition to the other side or to help you go home. But I couldn’t. I just wanted more time with you, so I kept you in Limbo. That’s why I couldn’t speak and that’s why you’ve been living a perfect life all this time.” tears have begun to stream down her face, “I’m sorry.”

I reach for her hand and I’m shocked to see that I can actually touch her. 

“What’s happening?” I ask.

Evelyn’s face is full of fear.

“Evelyn, what’s happening?”

“It’s time for you to decide. You have to do it quickly otherwise you’ll be trapped in the inbetween.”

“Does that mean I’ll get to be with you?”

“No, you’ll be alone, surrounded by darkness.”

I start to cry. “I just wanted more time with you.”

“I know baby. I wish it could have turned out differently but you need to choose.”

“Will it hurt? Dying?”

“No more than living.” She replies.

I take a deep breath. This might be the hardest decision I’ve ever had to make. I either lose my sister forever or force my parents to go through the death of another child. I look up at Evelyn’s face and know what I have to do.

“I want to come with you so badly but this decision isn’t just about you and me.”

A sad smile of understanding fills her face.

“I need you to send me back.” Tears stream down my face and I’m barely able to contain a sob. “I’ll never forget you.” I whisper.

“And I’ll never leave you.” She reaches out her hand one last time. “Tell mom and dad that I love them. Tell them that I miss them.”

I nod my head, no longer able to speak. I take her hand in mine and the world turns white.

“Emi?” my mom says.