It was strange and wonderful to fall asleep in my own bed and my real body that night. Although it was hard to sleep with my mind spinning so fast, going over everything that had happened. Some of it was good — like being with my family and seeing my own face in a mirror. There was also Eli’s accidental success. Who knew he had a fabulous voice? I was happy for him, but disappointed for myself because he had to stay in L.A. for a week.
But it was Sharayah I couldn’t forget. I was worried that my mission to help her was incomplete. I’d been wrong about her dreams and almost set her up for a competition she would have hated. And I didn’t restore her self-esteem or mend her broken heart. There hadn’t been enough time to even leave her a letter of encouragement. The only thing I’d left behind was my GEM. What would she think when she found it? Would she remember anything that had happened the last few days? If she did, how would she handle knowing that Gabe was a Dark Lifer?
Not well, I suspected, which made me feel even worse. I had to be the worst Temp Lifer in history. If Sharayah did gain self-esteem and return to being a loving sister, loyal friend and top student, the credit would go to Hannah. Not me.
Sharayah was lucky to have a best friend who stuck by her no matter what and never gave up on their friendship. That’s the kind of friendship I used to have with Alyce. But by not being there when Alyce needed me, I’d let her down.
Would she ever forgive me?
Tossing in my bed, I finally drifted off to sleep.
But somewhere in the middle of dreaming, I found myself surrounded by light and moving as if on an invisible escalator. I was rising up, up … until I was stepping into a surreal world where a path of silvery clouds led me to Grandma Greta.
Cola was there, too, sitting on what seemed to be a comfortable leather couch, his Duty Director lit up like holiday lights. He barked and rushed over, tail wagging. I hugged him, enjoying the tickles of his doggy tongue on my face. Then I looked up at Grammy, tensing because I was afraid of what she’d say about my first (and last) Temp Lifer mission.
So I said it for her.
“I know, I know … I blew it. I’m so sorry I let you down, Grammy.”
“You haven’t let anyone down,” she told me. “You fulfilled your duties splendidly.”
“But I didn’t improve Sharayah’s life.”
“The Nine Divine Rules clearly state that a Temp Lifer is to live their Host Soul’s life — not change it. You performed well. I’m very proud of you.”
“Proud?” I rubbed my head, wondering if maybe this was a dream after all and not an actual experience. I’d been so sure I’d messed up. How could Grammy think I’d done a good job?
“Amber, you should be proud of yourself, too,” she said as she opened her arms and pulled me against her warm, solid body. “You worked hard to follow the rules. Even though you bent them a little, it was all done for the right reasons.”
“But I tried so hard to get Sharayah to the singing competition and failed. Then I found out she didn’t want to be a star, she wants to work in a hospital and cure cancer. So I did absolutely nothing to make her dreams come true.”
“Sharayah has many talents and plenty of time to fulfill her own dreams. You gave her the rest she needed, so that now she has the strength to make the right choices. It’s her brother who has secret dreams of singing stardom.” Grammy touched my hair softly. “And that’s only one of many dreams you’ll share with him.”
There were subtle hints in her words that thrilled me. But asking about Eli’s future felt like cheating, given that I hoped to be part of it. So I asked if Sharayah was going to be okay.
“Better than okay.” Grammy led me over to the couch. We sat down and Cola curled up beside us. “She’s ready to tackle her life again now.”
“Will she remember everything that happened?”
“She’ll remember what’s important.”
“Does that include Gabe?”
“She knows he’s alive and that she shouldn’t feel guilty.” Grammy smiled at me. “You were wonderful, honey. Not many first-time Temp Lifers could handle a Dark Lifer.”
“But I was wrong about Warren.”
“You weren’t that wrong — he had come in contact with a Dark Lifer. And thanks to you, we gained more information about Gabriel Deverau. He’s the DD Team’s most wanted Dark Lifer. You were very brave to stand up to him.”
“I didn’t feel brave. I felt scared.” And strangely attracted, I thought guiltily.
“Don’t worry — he will be caught. So next time you go on a mission, you won’t have to worry about running into him.”
“Next time? Not me.” I shook my head adamantly. “I’m looking forward to finishing school, planning college and hanging out with my family and friends. Now that I sort of have a boyfriend, I may even go to prom. There are so many things I can’t wait to do. I’m glad you think I did a good job, but I need to live my own life now. Besides, having me hospitalized has been really hard on my family. No more comas or strangers sleeping in my body.”
“I understand,” she said, with a sigh that seemed to form in a cloudy puff and linger in the air for a moment before vanishing. “It’s just that I thought you’d want to help your friend.”
“What friend?” I asked cautiously.
“Alyce.”
“No way!” I felt my eyes would pop out, I was so shocked.
Then my grandmother began to explain that Alyce was in crisis mode and needed a time-out from life. Grammy wouldn’t reveal what the problem was due to confidentiality rules, but she hinted that it was traumatic and a Temp Lifer would be assigned right away.
“Too bad you’re not interested,” she said with a shrug. “I’ll find someone else to take the job.”
“But you can’t just put a stranger inside Alyce,” I argued. “She’s my best friend. I know her better than anyone.”
She arched a brow. “You already told me you weren’t interested, and I respect that. I wouldn’t expect you to leave your body again … although I could make this exchange without interfering with your life. No coma or hospital.”
“You could do that?”
“I can do many things,” she said mysteriously. “And when you returned to your body, your friendship with Alyce would be better, too.”
“Alyce will be okay?”
“With your help,” Grammy said.
“She’s my very best friend in the world. I’d do anything to help her.”
“Are you accepting this mission?”
“Can you promise me that my body won’t be stuck in a hospital again and that I won’t miss any more school?”
“It’s a promise. While you’re absent from your body, I’ll arrange a temporary occupant.”
“Occupant!” Horrified, I stared at her. “But I don’t want a Temp Lifer in my body! That’s just too creepy.”
“Not a Temp Lifer. It’ll be someone you can trust and who loves you more than is humanly possible.”
“Who?” I asked warily.
Grammy pointed to herself. “Me.”
26
I slipped from my cloudy conversation with Grammy into a calm, floating sensation so peaceful that all my fears faded away. Grammy said the change would be immediate, so I imagined my soul like a flame of energy, shooting from the other side down to the quiet street where Alyce and her mother lived in a brown, L-shaped corner
