Page 287 of Sweet Nightmare

Underneath it, written in her elegant handwriting, are a few lines.

Stephen,

I don’t know what kind of spell I’m under...

But I’ll be back.

— Artemis

I read it again.

Then again.

Then once more.

I’ll be back.

Three words.

Three stupid words that somehow manage to undo every miserable thought that's spent the last thirty seconds trying to bury me.

She’s coming back.

She wants to come back.

She…fuck.

I press the note against my mouth for a second before lowering it.

I look at the jellyfish again.

Why a jellyfish?

Because of my tattoos?

Fuck, I hope so.

Before I can think better of it, I wrap both arms around Mrs. Han and lift her off the floor.

She squeals. “Boy!”

I spin her around once and she smacks my shoulder.

“Put me down this instant!”

“Yes, ma’am.”

I set her back on the floor.

“You’ve completely lost your mind.”

“I have.”

“You smile.”

“Yeah….”

“You laugh.”