“Hey, you can see ghosts now. That’s pretty cool, right? How did that happen?” I fought to keep the stickiness of tears out of my voice.
She took a deep, wheezing breath. “Paul Michael thinks it runs in the family. He thinks dramatic events can trigger it.” She untangled herself from me and dried her eyes.
I looked at my brother who had a small, smug smile on his face. Both angry sisters were neutralized at once. Of course that was his plan.
“Am I a medium too?” I asked her. I nudged her with my elbow. The corner of her mouth turned up in a half smile.
“Probably, but you’re already dead so it doesn’t count, because you can see ghosts anyway.” Laura’s laugh was soft and uncertain as she wiped her nose on the back of her hand. She pulled her legs in and wrapped her arms around them. I did the same. Paul Michael mirrored us.
We were silent for a moment, the three of us sitting in age-order out on the roof, with our heads tilted toward the stars.
I felt one hand on my back, wide and tough, and another, small with skinny fingers.
I felt real. I mattered to Paul Michael and Laura. They would remember me.
I leaned my head against Laura’s shoulder. A thought floated into my head, something so obvious I wondered why I hadn’t realized it sooner. Maybe, I wasn’t sent back because of that chip on my shoulder. Maybe, it was to make sure Laura was alright. To help her move on. To make sure I didn’t save her life in vain.
I smiled at my sister. And she smiled back, braces and all. Laura was so young. She had her entire future in front of her. Her life was worth it.