Page 113 of Lucy Undying (Dracula #1)

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Hillside Memorial Cemetery, January 30, 2025

Voice Memo of Lucy Westenra

Lucy: So, now you’ve heard the rest of it. Or at least, the rest of it so far. I’m going to disagree with you, though, Vanessa. Which I know is unfair since you aren’t here to argue your point, but I think you’ll like mine.

You were wrong. Not about what I was searching for, or that I deserved to mourn myself, or that I was actually making a difference all those lonely decades when I felt so lost.

But you were wrong about endings. It’s not endings that give stories meaning. It’s the forever-full-of-nows. Every step, every choice, every feeling: That’s what holds meaning. For a story, for a life. I’m happy to not be at the end just yet. I’ll take an eternity more of nows.

But if you do want an ending, because I know you love a good story, I’ve got one for you. I found the girl I was, and I forgave her, and I even managed to save her.

Iris: Ahem. With help.

Lucy: Okay, yes, Iris notes that I saved her “with help.” Thank you for listening, and for showing me the way.

Iris: Wait, you’re done? You’re just going to leave the phone on her headstone?

Lucy: Yes. It’s got my story on it. I told the story for her, so I’m leaving it here.

Iris: That’s not—that’s not how recordings work, that’s— You know what, sure. It’s fine. We’ll get you a new phone. But I’m keeping you as Butter Chicken in my contacts.

Lucy: I don’t know what that sentence even means.

Iris: I know. Oh, Anthony and Rahul texted. They’re expecting us next week and I still have no idea how to explain my new lack of appetite.

Lucy: I gave you my allergies?

Iris: [laughing] There’s an odd euphemism for vampirism. We’ll figure it out later. Come on, it’s getting dark. We have work to do.

Lucy: We do. Goodbye, Vanessa. Sleep well. If there’s anything beyond that last strange border, my love and I will meet you there someday, with even more stories to tell.