“Hell yes we do. Let’s grab some shovels from the garage.” Jess jogged out of the kitchen door to the backyard, Melissa behind her.

Liz made a croaking sound, and I leaned down to hear what she tried to say. Her breath still had the faint odor of darkness that we’d first smelled when the pit was opened up.

“What . . .” was all she managed to eke out.

“We’ll explain everything. Don’t worry. You’re safe now,” I said. I didn’t know how we were going to tell her what had happened or how much. I didn’t know if we should tell her the whole truth, if it would help or hinder. She would never forgive herself if we told her everything, and the last thing I wanted to do was cause her more pain.

I looked outside and saw Jess and Melissa filling the pit with dirt and comparing who had the better shovel. It was the most normal thing I had heard in weeks.

I was about to turn back to Liz when a small figure outside made me stop. It was a gray shape, hopping around the yard, underneath the rosebushes. A rabbit. I gasped; it was a sign from June. I watched as the rabbit hopped away, disappearing under the roses.

I rubbed Liz’s back, trying to get her to sit up and take a sip of water. I had to muscle her body into an upright position and lift the glass to her trembling lips. Most of the water spilled out of her mouth, like she had forgotten how to eat and drink.

She swallowed and put her head on my shoulder. I tilted mine toward her and rested my chin on the crown of her head. I couldn’t imagine what she had seen or thought over the past few weeks, if she had been in there the whole time, like a prisoner of her own body, unable to call for help. I wondered if she would ever be able to tell us about it, or if she would block it out. But that would come in time; for now, all that mattered was that we all were safe. That our love and friendship had been enough to battle the darkest of forces.

Liz was back. Mavis was banished. We had done it. We had exorcised a demon from our friend and our neighborhood. Just suburban moms, who are routinely dismissed and pushed aside, whose position in society seems to be in the background, taking care of everything. And yet, we had figured out how to save everyone.

Suburban moms had saved the world.

EPILOGUE

Double, double toil and trouble;

Fire burn and cauldron bubble.