“Evie, you were a kid. We were kids. You told us about that premonition. I should have noticed her clothes, too, but I didn’t. My mom obviously didn’t even notice and you told her what outfit she would be wearing. She didn’t believe you could see the future anyhow. I finally don’t feel guilty anymore. It was entirely Gavin’s fault. If you had interfered with that premonition that night, he would have killed her another night. He beat her up all the time. She’d told him several times to get out, she didn’t want him there anymore, and each time he’d flip out. He even threatened to kill me if she left him. Gavin would never willingly have allowed her to leave him. Never. He was going to kill her whether or not you interfered. I didn’t tell you half the stuff that was going on even though you were my best friend. I was scared to death of him.”

I thought about that. I hadn’t known that he’d threatened to kill her on multiple occasions, that he’d threatened to kill Emily, too. But maybe Emily was right. I had seen one scenario. If I had interfered that time, what was the likelihood that Gavin would have tried again? It was high. Extremely high. The abuse would not have stopped and Patsy would have eventually left, or tried to leave, to protect Emily, and he would have come after her. I exhaled. Deeply. I think it was the first deep breath I’d taken around this issue ever. “I am so sorry, Emily, though. I am.”

“You have nothing to be sorry for. You need to forgive yourself. You need to let it go. You need to not blame yourself for one more day, Warrior Friend. Zombie Fighter. Dragon Slayer Girl. This was not your fault, it was not your responsibility.”

I smiled through overwhelming relief. “King Kong Wrestler. Space Alien Fighter. Queen of Lily Pads Island.”

“Best friend,” she said, hugging me. “I’m so sorry you suffered like this, Evie. I truly am.”

“Best friend, I’m glad you’re back.”

“Me too, Evie. We’ll be Zombie Fighters again in no time.”

“May the power be with us! We’ll just have to make sure we’re Zombie Fighters around your kids’ nap times.”

“And I won’t be a fast Zombie Fighter the huger I get.” She patted her stomach.

I couldn’t believe it. Within three days Eric and Emily found a home on the island overlooking the ocean, with land for “all the monsters to run around on,” Emily said. “Also. We’re getting chickens and goats.” They had bought the land where her former home stood. They would demolish the house and planned to build a playground there for the town.