As another school day wound down, Lucy turned to Emily with an excited grin. "Hey, do you want to come over for a sleepover this Saturday? It’ll be super fun!"
Emily's heart fluttered with excitement. She had by now embraced her new life, or as much as she realistically good, but sleepovers - these were a novelty that Daniel had rarely experienced much when he was a child. The idea filled Emily with both excitement and nervousness.
There was a strange thrill to this—was this excitement Daniel’s, or something more tied to this new life?
She hesitated, her eyes drifting to Lily, who was quietly packing her backpack. Not wanting to leave her friend out, Emily asked—almost apologetically—"Can Lily come too?" She braced herself for a 'no,' a response Daniel had grown all too accustomed to in life.
To Emily's surprise and relief, Lucy’s smile broadened. "Of course!"
Later that day, Emily shared the news with Lily. Initially surprised by the invitation, given her reserved, introverted nature, Lily agreed after a moment (contingent on parental approval, of course), buoyed by Emily's enthusiastic encouragement.
As Saturday approached, Emily found herself wondering about the sleepover. The concept felt both alien and intriguing—was it Emily’s curiosity or Daniel’s lack of experience fueling this? She had never been to a sleepover in this new life, and her memories as Daniel didn't include many such experiences either. She wondered if girls' sleepovers were different from what her limited memories of boys' sleepovers were like.
Daniel’s memories provided vague ideas, but there was something else—an almost ‘girlish’ anticipation that felt instinctively right?
Thinking back to depictions of sleepovers in movies—would they play games, watch movies, or spend the night talking? The uncertainty both thrilled and unnerved her.
Saturday evening came swiftly, and Emily found herself feeling a mix of excitement and anxiety. She had spent the day imagining what the sleepover would be like, the anticipation growing with each passing hour. Her hands, small but steady, clutched the overnight bag tightly—her excitement overriding Daniel’s usual anxieties. As Thomas drove her to Lucy's house, Emily’s mind raced with thoughts of the evening ahead.
When they arrived, the delicious aroma of pizza welcomed them. Lucy greeted Emily with a big hug at the door, with Lily already inside, sporting a shy smile.
As Emily stepped in, Lucy's parents offered a warm, albeit subdued, welcome. As Thomas and Lucy’s parents planned logistics and engaged in parental small talk, Lucy herded Emily into their living room. The house itself was modest and cozy, typical of the early '90s. The living room was filled with comfortable, mismatched furniture that had clearly been chosen for comfort rather than style—reminding Emily of Daniel's first apartment, which he had admittedly been quite fond of. The walls were adorned with Lucy's mom's artwork—colorful paintings that added a vibrant touch to the space. A well-loved rug covered the floor, and bookshelves lined one wall, filled with a mix of novels, art supplies, and technical texts.
The place was alive with creativity—something that stirred a combination of comfort and curiosity within her, as though this atmosphere was more aligned with Emily’s new life than Daniel’s analytical, antiseptic and frankly solitary one.
A cat darted past, igniting excitement in Emily—Daniel had been quite allergic to anything with fur, a frustrating barrier to the love of animals he always held. However, it appeared that in this universe and timeline, Emily did not possess the same allergies and could relish this simple joy. A sense of wonder filled her as the cat brushed against her leg. Instead of chasing the cat, Emily acted friendly towards it, giving the cat space to come to her. She realized that perhaps she and the cat were similar; both wanted relationships and contact with people, but both were a little skittish for their own reasons.
On the other hand, Lily unexpectedly broke character and chased after the cat, exclaiming, "Kitty!" which sent the cat darting away from the giggling girls. "Well well, fuzzy animals bring out the inner lion in Lily," Lucy joked, making Emily laugh even harder. It was a genuine laugh—less forced than Daniel’s had ever been.
The evening kicked off in earnest as the girls piled their plates high with pizza and settled on the couch.
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Through conversation, Emily learned that Lucy’s family had moved from California a few years ago for a quieter life and a safer environment. Lucy’s mom, an artist, was generally outgoing and cheerful, with a demeanor that matched Lucy’s personality. Her father, a computer science professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, was gentle but reserved, happy to retreat to his study when possible. Apparently, Lucy and her mother took some pleasure in invading his space to ‘coax’ him out of his den.
Lily, having grown up locally with a family history spanning generations, shared a bit about her own life. "My parents don’t live together anymore. Sometimes I stay with my mom, sometimes with my dad. They’re not too far from here. My dad fixes pipes and stuff—I think he's a plumber. My mom teaches kids at a school. They're always busy, so I spend a lot of time with my drawings and stuff.”
Emily listened intently, sensing the underlying loneliness in Lily's words—a feeling Daniel knew intimately, yet it was the Emily side of her who felt the deeper connection now. "Do you know why they divo…I mean live apart?" she asked gently.
Lily shook her head. "No, it happened so long ago I don't really remember. Dad says they just grew apart."
Unsure of what more to say, Emily nodded thoughtfully. This revelation shed light on Lily’s reserved nature. Reflecting on Daniel’s past experiences, she silently prayed that Lily would be spared the long-term hardships and trauma that he had known.
She wanted to comfort Lily in a way Daniel never knew how—something more instinctive, almost sister-like, that surprised her.
After dinner Lucy turned around excitedly, “Let’s watch this cartoon my dad just bought me—it’s new—can you guess what it is?” Stone-faced responses from both Emily and Lily finally elicited a squeak from Lucy. “Girls! It's THE LION KING!!!” Lucy’s enthusiasm made Emily grin—not least because Daniel had seen this movie hundreds of times, but at the raw childlike enthusiasm the ‘newness’ of this movie sparked in Lucy and Lily.
As they watched The Lion King, Emily felt a new appreciation for the film. Though she had seen it many times as Daniel, experiencing it with friends brought an unexpected layer of joy and camaraderie. These friendships felt real—untouched by the isolation Daniel had always felt. Amidst the movie, Emily realized how little she knew of her own family's background in this new life. Daniel’s memories couldn’t help her here—this was something she would have to explore on her own, as Emily. Making a mental note to learn more, she let herself sink into the movie night, appreciating the shared laughter and the comfort of new friendships.
As the credits rolled and the room brightened, the girls were still buzzing with the energy of the story. Lily, caught up in the excitement and feeling braver than usual, jumped onto the sofa, her voice ringing out proudly, "Lucy, you were right. I AM a lion, and this is my Pride Rock! ROAR!" Her laughter was infectious, and it swept through the group like a wave, lifting everyone's spirits.
Riding the wave of high spirits, Emily playfully grabbed a pillow, shouting, "I am Rafiki! Dodge my stick," and tossed it at Lily, sparking an impromptu pillow fight. Pillows flew, and shrieks and laughter filled the air as the girls darted and chased each other around the room, each trying to dodge and throw pillows. The joyous chaos was a release, allowing Emily to for a moment forget her dual existence and act like the carefree child she would have ordinarily been.
Lucy’s parents, intrigued by the commotion, stood in the doorway, smiles on their faces at the sight of such unbridled and unrestrained happiness. With a playful authority, Lucy's mom clapped her hands to draw their attention. "Alright, little lions, time to wind down!" she announced, her eyes twinkling with amusement as they sheepishly protested the injustice of winding down.
Nevertheless, exhausted and still giggling, the girls collapsed into a pile on the floor, their energy depleted. As Lucy’s parents retreated, shaking their heads in amusement, the room settled into a quieter, more intimate atmosphere. The girls began to share stories and dreams, their voices soft and thoughtful in the dim light.
"Emily," Lucy began, her voice unusually gentle, "I'm really glad we're friends. When I first moved here from California, I felt all alone. I didn't know anybody, and everything was so different. But then I started meeting nice people, and it helped a lot." She paused, looking at Emily with sincerity. "Being with you reminds me of that time. I'm really happy you're here."
Emily felt her chest tighten in a way that wasn’t entirely Daniel’s—this warmth, this affection, felt like something new. Something distinctively hers in this timeline. "Thanks, Lucy. I'm really glad we're friends too."
Lucy then turned to Lily and gave her a hug. "And you, Lily, I’m so happy you’re here too. You’re awesome too, you know that?"
Lily, taken rather aback by the sudden hug and compliment, blushed shyly but smiled. "Thanks, Lucy. I... I like being here too."
The room filled with a comforting silence, the bond between the girls strengthening in the soft glow of the nightlight. As they drifted off to sleep, Emily felt a sense of peace and contentment she hadn’t known in a long time. The friendships she was building were real and pure, offering a healing touch to the wounds of her past. And, for the first time, Emily felt like she belonged—not just as Daniel’s ‘ghost’ in a new body, but perhaps as someone, or something new?