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It takes me a moment to process everything she’s saying. It’s so rare I get more than a sentence out of her, it’s like my brain is struggling to piece them together when they’re delivered all at once rather than fed to me morsel by morsel. “You’re going down to LA, whether you get this job or not?”

She bites her lip. Nods once. “Now’s the time. This viral TikTok could open doors for me. It probably won’t happen again. I at least have to try.”

“When?” I croak.

“Probably right after this.”

I pull my hand from hers and turn away, tucking my feet onto the seat and hugging my knees as I look out the window. The faintest droplets of rain have begun falling, splattering across the glass, as if the weather is tied to my emotional state. I thought we’d have more time. I wanted to talk to her about us. About making things work. But now that she’s leaving, what’s the point? Mariah will be in LA, and I know she’ll get hired because she’s an incredibly talented person, and I’ll be up here finally getting my big shot at my dream role.

I knew it would come down to this. Mariah was bound to choose someone or something else over me. May as well be her career.

There’s no point in fighting it.

I’ll always come in second.

“Ellie?”

I sniff. “Yeah?”

“I’m sorry.”

“No, don’t be sorry.” I take all those sad feelings and force them down, jamming them into the hollow pit in my stomach. I plaster my best smile on and adjust my posture into something resembling a whole person who hasn’t just been ripped in half. “I’m excited for you! This is great! I can’t believe someone saw your TikTok and wants you to work for them on their movie. I mean, of course I can believe that, you’re awesome, and you’re going to blow their minds, and maybe you’ll get to design some aliens, and—”

“Ellie.”

“And you’ll be like the next H.R. Giger! Ooh, maybe you’ll get to work on a horror set and do something really grotesque. Either way, I’m sure once you’re down there they’ll be fighting over you. I’m really happy that you’re—”

“Ellie!” She grips my hand tightly. “Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“This,” she says, as if that makes any more sense.

“I’m not doing anything.”

She sighs, then releases my hand for a moment so she can turn off the highway and onto the side road toward our cabin. “It’s okay to be sad.”

“I’m not sad.” My bottom lip trembles, and I bite it to make it stop. “I’m happy! We’re both getting everything we ever wanted.”

Mariah looks over at me, her eyes misting, and takes a slow breath. “Not quite.”

I lean my head on her shoulder as she presses a kiss to my temple. We continue the rest of the way in silence, though instead of it being charged with angst, it’s the bittersweet ache of Christmas morning, knowing that after waiting for so long you’re about to get everything you’ve ever wanted...

But it will all be over soon.

Interstitial

Ext. Downtown Hemlock Grove Courtyard (Cont’d)

A group of businesspeople approach Annie and James, interrupting their romantic dance.

BUSINESSWOMAN 1

James! Didn’t expect to see you here.

BUSINESSWOMAN 2

It’s been years since you’ve joined