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you make room in your heart for someone new.

I want that for you, James. I want you to

live a full and happy life. You don’t have

to die because I did.

Annie sniffles, cries.

JAMES

I didn’t think it was possible to love

again after my heart was broken that

night. But I see now...

James wipes Annie’s tear, caresses her face.

JAMES (CONT’D)

I see now that it might be possible.

KATE

(whispering in James’s ear)

I know it’s possible. Trust yourself.

Trust her. She’s a good one, James.

She’s exactly who I would have

picked for you.

Kate walks away, leaving Annie and James alone.

Chapter 27

Ellie

“Andcut!” Yueyi shouts.

Applause breaks out from cast and crew alike.

Julia and Oscar take a bow, then beckon me to join them from where I’d stepped away off set. They draw me in, and all three of us bow together.

“That was amazing!”

“Incredible job all around!”

“Superb performance from everyone!”

All the backstage lighting and sound techs take their turns congratulating us on a job well done while we return the sentiments to them and all their hard work over the past two weeks. Oscar has one arm over my shoulder, the other over Julia’s, something that would have brought me a sense of incredible belonging and contentment mere days ago, but now only makes me feel the weight of his limb on my shoulder.

“You guys go ahead,” I say, shrugging his arm off me. “I just need a minute to say goodbye.”

Julia and Oscar exit with the rest of the team, leaving me alone in the café. I trail my fingertips along the tabletops as I walk through the place, breathing in the familiar scents one last time. The bright lights shine off the glass display case full of fake cookies and cakes, reflecting my image back at me. I reach up and touch my face, finding a tear trailing down my cheek.