The sign for Forever Ink came into view. And before Cass fully registered what she was doing, she had pulled over in front of the tattoo parlor.

Forever. She sat in the car, staring up at the word. She couldn’t stay here and become a new person altogether; she had to go home to Starlight Peak. But she could do something that would remind her about what she really wanted from life: Adventure. Authenticity. True love.

Cass pushed open the door before she could change her mind. Jason was sitting at the front counter. “Hey, there, Cass,” he said. “Need a touch-up on that tat? You’re in luck, I’m free right now, just had a cancellation.”

“Perfect. And, no. I’ve actually decided I want something more permanent.”

Jason smiled. “That happens a lot with temporary tattoos. Once you get a taste, you know you want to be inked for life. So, what’ll it be? Any thoughts on design?”

The old Cass would have taken ages to decide on exactly what to have permanently etched onto her skin—and then probably would have lost her nerve. But this Cass already knew what she wanted. “A constellation of stars,” she said. “The Gemini constellation.” Jason already had his phone out, typing her words into the search bar.

“Nice,” he said. “I’ve done constellations before, like this.” He grabbed a pen and pad and started to sketch, then passed the sheet to her: it was beautiful, an array of stars linked by thick black lines. “But maybe you want something a little smaller, less conspicuous?”

“No. That drawing is exactly right.” Cass held out her wrist. “Right there, where the temporary one is. I want to go for it. Right now.”

Cass’s heart was pounding as she followed Jason to the chair—but she wasn’t afraid. She was the captain of her own ship, the master of her own fate. Soon she would have a constellation of stars on her wrist to remind her of home, as well as her twin, Charlie. But also, that there was a whole universe out there and Cass didn’t have to stay stuck in one place forever, waiting for her life to begin.

20

Charlie

Wednesday: 3 Days Until Christmas . . .

Starlight Peak

The weather in Starlight Peak had become increasingly wintery the past few days. Its residents left deep footprints in the thick layer of snow that blanketed the town, as they scurried about doing last-minute Christmas shopping. Charlie walked as quickly as she could from the bakery to the Honey Pot—one of her favorite shops in town—because the cold had reached bone-chilling temperatures today. She used her gloved hand to turn the shop’s door handle, a series of bells announcing her arrival. The warming smells of cinnamon and honey filled the space, and Charlie inhaled deeply—she would never take her sense of smell or taste for granted again.

After a pleasant conversation with the shop’s owner, and a mug of the Honey Pot’s “Christmas Cheer” (hot apple cider sweetened with local wildflower honey and mulling spices), Charlie was soon on her way again, her Christmas shopping list checked off. Traipsing down snow-covered sidewalks, Charlie walked more cautiously now, as she didn’t want to slip with the gift bags—and the breakable wares—in her arms. She was so focused on her footing that her eyes were downcast as she arrived back at the bakery, causing her to bump right into a woman who had reached for the door at the same moment.