2|| Whispers in the Wind

Epilogue

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Mamá,

I did that exact thing you told me not to. But I'm not sorry. I saved Fir Hills from years and years of suffering. I saved my friends, and I tried really hard to save Malia. Please, please try to get her back on track. I talked to her, I figured out what she was going through. She needs you. And you need her. You deserve a kid who will always be there for you. I'd be that kid, but I'm sort of dead. I feel awful for acting like a coward and not telling my friends what my plan was all along, but I hope you understand I did it for the greater good. You are the best mom I could have ever asked for. You made my life worthwhile, and I am so grateful for everything you did for me. And please, don't blame them for what I did. They didn't want me to go. So if there's anything you owe me, it's that. I love you.

-Your son

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Leo,

I love you so much. Like seriously. I don't think I can say it enough. The first time we met, I knew we were going to be best friends, and you have so many incredible things about you that makes you so appealing. I love your ridiculously nerdy rants and your modesty and how you're always there for me no matter what. I remember when you first moved here, you actually stood up to one of the guys in my dumb ass clique. Which I couldn't even do. You are strong, and you're meant to be a leader, and I know you can stand up more often. Do it. It's a good look on you.

Please don't be angry with me. I know you feel like I'm abandoning you, but you have everyone else, now. Don't let this eat away at you. I just saved you a lifetime of harassment from evil ass spirits. I love you, okay? So so so so so much. Don't be a stranger.

-Will

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Ev,

I'm going to miss pulling pranks on you. I'm also going to miss cheating off you during Computer Science. I've assigned Jacob to keep up the tradition of teasing you and Leo. Trust that he completes it. You're one of the coolest girls I know, and I'm so sure you can get through this. Thank you for the jokes and the whole showing-up-at-my-house thing whenever I was down. I love you, and I hope you can keep being the backbone of the group. They really need you.

-Wilder

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Daye,

I regret not getting to know you better. You're extremely badass, though, and I'm so happy for you and Aria. You're probably going to react to this whole thing with anger, but keep the whimsical part of my spirit alive, okay? Remember to prank call Principal Bustamonte for me or I will haunt you after I die.

-Wilder

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Aria,

I'm glad you convinced me to tell stories during school break, because if you didn't, we couldn't have formed this super awesome amazing friend group that's probably going to trauma bond after shit goes down. I feel like you're the only one who would actually laugh at that joke, so here I am putting it there. Please take care of Kalyani, and yourself, too.

-Wilder

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Kalyani,

I'm not even sure what to say to you. I'm really sorry, though. For letting everything build up before shutting it down. I couldn't help it, I really really like you and a little part of me hopes that my plan doesn't work and I don't die. But I hope you remember the good things about me, like my general awesomeness, my love of guitar and playing you Idle Town, my super cool hair, my pep talks, that time I stalked you at the library, and also when I saved your life at Leo's. I could just go on and on. 

But let's talk about you instead. You're resourceful, smart, and insanely persistent. I think you changed me for the better, really. Don't let the little things get to you. I know you can fix all the things you were unhappy with, like your relationship with Aria and your mom and Arlo. But now you have Jacob and Ev and Leo. I know you have a bright future ahead together. I wish we had more time to spend together, so I could be there too, but I had no other choice. Maybe someday, we'll see each other again. Love ya.

- Stalker Wilder

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TO DO LIST:

X make some 

X tell mom you love her

X protect mom from Roxanne

X fix your guitar

▢ make sure your friends still love you.

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Kalyani stared at the paper with shaking hands. He must have accidentally put the list behind the letter he'd wrote to her. It had been a month. A month until she'd finally gotten the courage to read it. She thought she had been ready.

She hadn't.

Maybe she could discuss it with the rest of the group tomorrow. But for now... she picked up a pen. Slowly, carefully, Kalyani checked off the last empty space on the list.