I look at Isolde again. Part of her mask has come loose now and is hanging from her face like a piece of meat. Underneath, I can see some of her scars emerging. She has removed her green contact lenses. Her one good eye is blue. That’s another similarity between us.

The male officer points at the stairs. “Our fellow officers are taking care of the other parents downstairs. Maybe it’s a good idea for you guys to wait down there too.”

My mom and dad…When I was in Claus’s room with that trash bag over my head, I thought about them. And what it would be like if I didn’t survive.

How am I ever going to explain to them everything that happened here? When we told the whole story to the officers, it was like I was talking about someone else.

How can anyone ever understand how I felt?

In the lobby, I look up at the gold clock above the entrance one last time. The hands show that it’s long past twelve.

It’s now officially Kate’s birthday.

One year later.

I look at the signs around the edge.

“What is Isolde’s star sign?”

Kate looks at me in surprise. “Libra, why?”

I breathe a sigh of relief. Not Capricorn, thank goodness.

“Kate?” The voice of Kate’s father booms around the lobby. “What’s going on? Why are the police here?”

Frank puts his arms around his daughter and hugs her tight.

I look at them for a moment, then head outside. The doorman tips his hat as I walk past.

If only I could turn back time to yesterday. When Lucas was still just Lucas, and Claus was no more than a plan in Isolde’s head.

We were going to have a great weekend, with great food and swimming in the dark. After all, you can see the stars through the glass dome.

I drop down onto the edge of the sidewalk and sigh deeply.

Behind me, I hear a voice.

“Can I come sit with you?”

Fender

“Can I come sit with you?”

Linnea looks up at me. “Why would you want to do that?” Her voice sounds muffled, as if she’s under a silver dome.

“I was looking for the only honest person here.”

Linnea nods. “Sit down.”

We sit in silence, but this time it’s not bad. We have nothing to say to each other. Or maybe too much.

The officers come out, with her between them. She glances in my direction. Her mask is coming off, and I recognize every line in her face.

How many times have I thought about what it would be like to see her again?

It never went like this.