It took time for me to unclench my knuckles and peel my fingers away from his neck. When I was finally able to let go, I rolled off him. We lay in the park next to each other, two twins. One dead, one dying. I turned my head, watching him, still not able to believe I’d killed him. Exhausted, I let my eyes blink shut—not for long, only for a few seconds. When I opened them again, he was gone. The ground was empty, as if his body had never been there at all. He was an intruder who didn’t belong in this world.

Neither did I.

I had to go, too.

Every breath had become torture. I dragged in air and tasted blood as I exhaled. It wouldn’t be long. And yet I felt free.

Karly knelt by my side. Her blue eyes were full of confusion and fear. “Dylan. Oh, my God, Dylan, what’s going on? That other man, he was you. He had your face. Where is he? Where did he go?”

I whispered to her as my brain floated. “Go home, Karly.”

“No, you need help. An ambulance.”

She took her phone in her hand, but I found enough strength to hold her wrist down. “Don’t.”

She put her hand softly on my cheek. “I can’t lose you. Ellie can’t lose you.”

“You won’t lose me. Go home. I’m there.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m not your Dylan. I’m not him. Your Dylan is safe. I promise you.”

“I don’t understand!”

I felt black clouds encroaching. I didn’t want her to see the end. “Please, Karly. Go.”

“How can I leave? How can you say that?”

She bent down, and her hair swished across my face. Her lips found mine. I could barely feel them, but the barest sensation of softness was enough to take away some of the pain. She held on to me, our faces pressed together. I smelled her perfume, but my five senses had begun to shut down, and only the sixth was left.

“Do you love me?” I asked her.

“You know I do.”

“Then trust me. Go home.”

She pushed herself up on her hands, her face over mine, only inches away. “Are you really there?”

“Yes.”

“How can I possibly believe that?”

“Because I would never let you go.”

She stared down at me, trying to find answers in my face. I felt her kiss me again, slow and soft, like a fairy touch. She got to her feet and stood over me, memorizing the look of me, the way I’d memorized her.

“Come find me, Dylan,” she murmured.

I tried to speak, but I couldn’t.

“Come find me,” she said again. “I’m still here.”