Shayla walked with her head down, hands in her pockets. Her left hand gripped the vial that proved it wasn’t a dream. She was determined to go through with it, but that didn’t mean it was going to be easy. It was Joe’s turn in downtown, so he should be on their corner before dark. She stood as still as the building she leaned on. Her eyes fixated on the ground as she tried to clear her mind. It was easier than she thought. By the time she heard Joe’s footsteps, she was almost calm.

“Hey, Joe,” she waved with a grin on her face.

He returned the smile, “Hey.”

“I had a great day,” she said, “I got ten dollars, plus someone bought me a 7/11 dog.”

“Sounds like a great day.”

“Yeah,” she said, “So, I wanted to buy you dinner. What do you want?”

“I’m actually not hungry,” he said, “Thanks though.”

She scoffed, “Not hungry? Joe, when was the last time you weren’t hungry?”

“You don’t have to waste your money on me, Shae,” Joe said.

“But I want to, Joe,” she said, “please.”

He decided to go for a small order of dumplings at the cheapest Chinese restaurant they could find.

“Oh, my God,” he said in between chews, “It’s been forever since I’ve had bao. It’s better than I remember.”

“I’m glad you like it,” Shayla said with a lump in her throat.

“What’s up?” Joe swallowed, “Do you want some?”

“No, no, no,” she waved away the dumpling he was offering her, “I’m just a little tired.”

“Oh,” he said, “Well, there’s a cozy little spot by the park. I was gonna take it, but it’s all yours.”

“Oh, Joe,” she said, “You don’t have to do that.”

“Please,” Joe said, “It’s the least I can do for all you’ve done for me.”

“I just bought you dinner,” she said, “You’d do the same for me.”

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“You’ve done more than you’ll ever know,” his Adam’s apple bobbed.

Shayla had to suppress a squeal, “I’m sorry, Joe.”

“Sorry for what, Shae?”

“I’m so sorry.”

The empty takeout container clattered to the ground as Joe’s body stiffened. His throat made a horrible, strained scream. His bulging eyes gave a final pleading look at his horrified companion before his body went limp. She screamed but made no sound. She was sad but she couldn’t mourn because it was her fault.

Her hands were shaking the entire walk to the police station. It was locked, but there was an occupied cruiser outside. At this point she felt safe, even obligated, to let out every emotion that had been building up inside her since leaving Lucifer’s den. The tears flowed like waterfalls out of her eyes as she told the cops that her friend was dead. And it’s all my fault she wanted to shout. But she managed to keep her mouth shut.

She left the police to do their thing and claimed she didn’t know the dead man. They took a statement and sent her on her way. Shayla left the scene without looking back. If she did, she was sure she would go insane. The voices in her head were already too loud to cope with. Her head was so crowded, that it felt like it was going to explode.

Killer. Murderer. Satanist.

You killed your only friend. Now you’re gonna die alone.

Selfish bitch.

“Hey, Shae!”

She heard footsteps running toward her from behind. Even the sound of her feet hitting the pavement was familiar. She had a kind of trot in her step that became more apparent when she was jogging. Shayla closed her eyes and let a tear fall. She watched it hit the payment with a silent splash. Shayla smiled at the ground.

“Thank you.”

They walked hand in hand. Shayla kept squeezing Grace’s hand. She was real. This was happening. But it was so euphoric that somehow her mind kept forgetting that she wasn’t dreaming.

“Babe,” Grace said, “Are you okay?”

Shayla blushed, “Yeah. I’m sorry. I guess I’m just a little antsy.”

“It’s okay,” she smiled.

“Should we start scouting for places to sleep tonight?”

“Oh,” her smile fell, “Yeah, I guess.”

Shayla stopped walking and turned to her, “What’s wrong?”

Grace shook her head, “Nothing.”

They found a spot and curled up for the night. Shayla was comforted by the warmth of her partner. She had missed it while Grace was gone, and now it meant more than it ever had. Now, it meant she was real. She was alive and breathing. Her heinous act had been rewarded, but now that Grace was here, she didn’t feel guilty. She only felt the way she always did when Grace was around, even in Idaho, safe.

That night was the first time since discovering Grace’s body that Shayla didn’t have a nightmare. Her sleep was so deep and so peaceful that she almost forgot that she was huddled in a bag on a street corner. She forgot about her hunger. Her worries. Her crime. Everything except for Grace. Instead of the horrifying image of Grace’s corpse in an alley, her dreams were filled with pleasant memories. Though they had been homeless since running away, Shayla thought they had a good life here. And she was happy to have it back.