17

Emma’s chest felt like she’d swallowed a Roman candle. She wanted to go to James, to explain to him why she couldn’t go, but she didn’t trust herself to speak. Instead, he closed the space between them and grabbed her hands.

“I’d be lying if I said I didn’t want you to go with me,” James said, “because there is no one I’d rather have near me than you. But you’d have to change your whole life to make that happen. You’d have to live according to what I need, and I have nothing to offer to you but a life of uncertainty. And me allowing you to even take this risk was selfish.” He pulled Emma against him. “I almost let you give up your life just for the slim chance that I could be with you in my world. I’m no different than Thomas.”

Emma pulled away from him and pressed her hands to his chest. “You are nothing like Thomas.”

“Aren’t I?” he asked.

Emma’s hair brushed against her shoulders as she disagreed. “I’ve been avoiding my life for months, years probably. And even though leaving with you is tempting, maybe it’s just another version of avoidance. I’d be running away, and I don’t belong in your world.” Emma wrapped her arms around him. “Thank you, James. For being you, for seeing me, for making me feel special, for helping me to believe in love again. I am going to miss you so badly.”

James squeezed her against him and kissed the top of her head. “You’re one in a gazillion, Em. There’s nobody in the whole universe like you. I’m so thankful for these days with you.” He released her and pressed his hands to her cheeks. “You deserve all the love in the world.”

“It’s happening,” she said, stepping away from him. “You’re glowing.”

Morty slipped Emma’s hand into his. “You take care of yourself, James.”

James nodded. “You take care of her.” Then he smiled at Emma as he placed his hands over his heart. His eyes turned the golden color of the magical dust. “I will never forget how wonderful my time was with you. Never ever.”

“Never ever,” she repeated.

Emma’s body trembled as a windstorm of air and light swirled around her. Within seconds, James was gone. Emma pressed her hands over her mouth, closed her eyes, and cried.