Maren threw her phone into her bag, stuck her head into Amos’s grandfather’s room to tell them the good news, and ran for the exit.

* * *

Fifteen minutes later, Maren and her mother careened into the hospital parking lot, neither one of them having double-checked their seat belt or whispered self-affirmations at traffic lights. They swung into an empty spot beside Lishta’s duct-tape-covered Beetle, and Maren flung herself out of the car before her mother had even shifted into park.

“Come on!” she yelled.

Laughing, they ran to the entrance. The glass doors swished open, and they slowed to a speed-walk, throwing a quick hello to the woman at the front desk. Up zoomed the elevator, not stopping until the fifth floor. Maren gave the ridiculously happy unicorn on the wall a double thumbs-up and thundered down the hall to her sister’s room.

Lishta and Maren’s dad sat on either side of Hallie’s bed, holding her hands, and Henri hopped around the bedside table, shredding Kleenex with his beak.

As soon as Hallie caught sight of Maren, her face broke into a massive grin. “Hey, little sis,” she said in a rusty voice.

“COCHON GROGNON. MAREN IS IN THE STARLIGHT—”

“Henri, I will put you in the car,” warned Lishta. With an offended squawk, Henri flapped over to the windowsill, where he began preening his feathers. Lishta stood and gestured for Maren to sit in her chair.

Maren took Hallie’s hand and squeezed, not too hard. Her heart was trying to tap-dance out of her chest. There were so many things she wanted to say, she didn’t know where to start.

“How are you feeling?” she finally said.

“Okay,” croaked Hallie.

Maren inched closer to her sister. Her beautiful, kind, wonderful sister who she’d thought might never speak to her again. Maren had never felt this kind of dazzling, dizzying happiness in her entire life.

“Do you remember anything I told you while you were asleep?” she said.

Hallie closed her eyes and nodded slightly.

“You did hear,” said Maren, beaming. “Anyway, you don’t have to worry about her anymore. Obscura… Ms. Malo is in jail now. The trial hasn’t started yet, but considering all the evidence, the police don’t think she’ll be out for a very long time—if ever.”

Eyes still closed, Hallie smiled. “Good,” she mouthed soundlessly, then rolled onto her side and her hand went slack as her breathing slowed. Maren’s mom crossed the room and stroked her hair.

“It’s okay,” she said to Maren. “The doctors said this is normal sleep now. Do you want to grab some lunch while she rests?”

Maren shook her head. “You go without me. I’ll stay here.”

After everyone had filed out to the cafeteria, she squeezed into the bed, resting her cheek against Hallie’s back. Listening to the gentle rhythm of her sister’s breath, Maren drifted off to sleep, too.

Thirty-One