Austin’s pov;

Something was keeping me here, and i wasn’t sure what it was. I knew sometimes things had to be done before we could finally move on, for good. To finally vanish from where we once called earth. But i wasn’t sure what i had to do.

It wasn’t necessarily a bad thing, still being around here. It just didn’t feel right.

it felt as if there was still something left to do. But what that could’ve been, i have no idea.

Samara’s pov;

My grandmother always told me, our angels let us know they’re near. Whether it’s a flicker in a light, a cardinal, a butterfly. they have their ways.

It was a hard past few months without austin. All i wanted was to see him one more time, tell him how much i loved him. All i can keep thinking about is how amazing it’d be to hug him just once more.

But it was hopeless wishing for these things, as they would never be true. What i could wish for, however, was a for a butterfly to flutter its wings nearby, or for a cardinal to sweep low in the garden, or even for a little flicker in that lantern that never fails on the front porch.

( two months later )

Austin’s pov;

I went to check out my room today, just to see if anything’s changed yet. To my surprise, it had.

There were no longer boxes stacked around the room. instead, it was neat and clean. Not a trace of me anywhere.

I went over to the desk where my phone usually was. Gone.

It wasn’t necessarily a forgotten feeling, but a “fresh start” one. And standing in here, i felt more free than ever.

I knew it was coming, my time here was coming to an end.

I knew it’d be soon.

Samara’s pov;

I finally got rid of the stuff that once seemed impossible to separate from. Not everything, of course. I kept his hoodies and his shirts. I gave his sneakers and hats to his brothers and dad. He had a a bunch of baseball cards i gave to his sister, who was now the best on her team. How proud he’d be of her.

And i gave his mom back all the photo albums she once gave me.

I stopped texting him. It was silly, really. Constantly sending messages to a phone that was right in here. I also finally disconnected the number and turned the phone in.

Austin was gone, and there was nothing anybody could have done to stop it from happening. But, for the first time ever, there wasn’t a sadness in me, or grief, or a endless spiral of “why” circling my mind. Instead, there was peace.

After the room had been emptied, i decied to go sit out on the front porch for the sunset, which was one of mine and Austin’s favorite things to do. As i sat on our white porch swing, watching the cotton-candy sky, i couldn’t help but look over at the lantern by the corner of the front porch steps.

And for the first time ever, that light flickered.