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Back How to Disappear Completely Save as PDF
Chapters (58)
  1. Cover
  2. Dedication
  3. Epigraph
  4. 1
  5. 2
  6. 3
  7. 4
  8. 5
  9. 6
  10. 7
  11. 8
  12. 9
  13. 10
  14. 11
  15. 12
  16. 13
  17. 14
  18. 15
  19. 16
  20. 17
  21. 18
  22. 19
  23. 20
  24. 21
  25. 22
  26. 23
  27. 24
  28. 25
  29. 26
  30. 27
  31. 28
  32. 29
  33. 30
  34. 31
  35. 32
  36. 33
  37. 34
  38. 35
  39. 36
  40. 37
  41. 38
  42. 39
  43. 40
  44. 41
  45. 42
  46. 43
  47. 44
  48. 45
  49. 46
  50. 47
  51. 48
  52. 49
  53. 50
  54. 51
  55. Acknowledgments
  56. About the Author
  57. Back Ad
  58. About the Publisher

I open my eyes and look in the mirror. The bangs are much better than before. They’re straight now, and cover everything above my eyebrows. You can’t see my spots at all. If Ms. Singh noticed them while she was cutting—and I don’t see how she couldn’t have—she doesn’t say anything.

“Thanks,” I reply. “It doesn’t look like I cut them myself anymore.”

“You’re welcome,” she says, smiling. “Now, get to class, and good luck with that story. And Emma?”

“Yeah?”

“You look nice with bangs. But you looked nice without them, too.”

When I arrive in English class later that morning, Ms. Singh gives me a thumbs-up, and I smile back at her.

“What happened to your zombie freak face?” Edie says as she sits down.

“What happened to your twin?” retorts Fina, appearing behind her.

“What are you talking about?” Edie asks, eyes narrowing.

“I just figured the only explanation for being so rude is that you’re someone’s evil twin.” Fina crosses her arms over her chest. “So what’d you do with the good one?”

I laugh, and Edie starts to say something, but Grace Number One jerks her head toward Ms. Singh, who looks like she’s about to come over. Edie smiles sweetly at her.

“Are you okay?” Fina whispers. “Ruby told me what happened on the bus.”

“I’m fine,” I say. Honestly, it was almost worth it for Edie to call me a zombie freak just to see Fina defend me like that. It makes me feel all warm and fuzzy.

“Good. Why’d you cut your hair anyway?” Fina asks. “I mean, the bangs look good on you, but what inspired you?”

“I don’t know,” I say. “I guess it was just time for a change, you know?”

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At the end of the week, I tell Fina and Ruby I’m going to be late to school the next Monday because of a dentist appointment, but really I’m going for my first light treatment at Dr. Howard’s office. I’ll have to get good at thinking up excuses if I’m going to have to do these treatments twice a week.

A nurse takes me back to a room with this really tall box that looks a little like a spaceship. Then I have to close my eyes and put on goggles and go stand inside the box. She counts down from three. When she gets to one, a light flicks on so bright I can see it with my eyes closed—and there’s a whirring noise. Then I just stand there like that for a whole minute, pretending that I’m being beamed up into space.

“That’s all?” I ask when the light switches off. I didn’t feel anything. It seems kind of crazy that just a little bit of light could bring the color back to my skin.