I've Died Here Before novel · Chapter 24 of 24

Chapter 24: Every Star

Hattie drove me to the ferry landing in the hatchback with the one working speaker.

"Take a flashlight," she said. "In case the banshee gets nervous."

"I'm never nervous," the voice said.

"She says she's never nervous."

"She's lying," Hattie said. "Go."

She hugged me with her good arm, and I walked out onto the pier alone.

It was Friday, the fourth of October, at 7:20 in the evening.

The pier lights were off.

All of them.

Holden had bought the new pier from the city on Tuesday, and he had asked the crew to switch off the lamps for one night.

He was already there.

He sat on the bench by the rail in his charcoal coat, with a thermos between his knees and two paper cups in his hands.

He stood up when he saw me.

"You're early," I said.

"I said I would be."

"It's 7:20. We said eight."

"I've been here since six," Holden said. "I wanted to see if it was the same pier."

"Is it?"

"No." He looked down the boards. "It's only a pier."

He held out a cup.

I took it, and the steam rose into the cold air.

"It's hot," I said.

"It's the first time."

I laughed, and then my eyes burned, and I put the cup down on the bench before I spilled it.

"Walk with me," I said.

We went down the boards toward the end, where the rail was.

He moved to the river side without thinking.

I stopped him with a hand on his arm.

"Switch," I said.

"Addie."

"Rule two. I'm telling you first. I'd like to take the water side tonight."

His face went still.

"Why?"

"Because I'm not afraid of it anymore." I looked at him. "And because you've stood there for three years, and I'd like to see how it feels."

He was quiet a long time.

"I'm afraid," he said. "Out loud."

"I know. I've got you."

We changed places on the dark boards.

I took the river side, with the black water moving under the rail on my left and his hand tight in mine on my right.

Nothing happened.

The water moved past, cold and ordinary.

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