'and i can still see it all in my mind... all of you, all of me, intertwined. i once believed love would be black and white, but it's golden.'
Samira Mayfield is forced to move to a new town, transfer to a new school, and make new friends two months...
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— epilogue
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It's been three months since the fight at the mall. We had a funeral for Hopper, it was nice, I guess. It just doesn't feel real. I flew back to California for Gen's funeral. Her parents asked me to give her a eulogy and it was one of the hardest things I ever had to do. How do you sum up a person's life? Funerals never make any sense to me. They're supposed to help you say goodbye, but it seems cheap. I mean, you don't get to see them or hear their voice or say all the things you've ever wanted to say to them. It's just an event with sad people, being sad together. Billy's funeral was like that. No one knew what to say. Hell, people still don't know what to say. Steve tries to help, but he can't see past the fact that Billy was a shitty person. He would never feel that Billy deserved what happened to him. He just doesn't understand why it's been hitting me so hard. And truthfully? I don't understand it either. I moved in with Sarah about a month ago. I couldn't sleep in that house anymore, the nightmares and memories were just too bad. My nightmares aren't gone, but they're not as bad as they were. I still haven't told Max the truth. I can't bring myself to. She shouldn't lose both of us. It wouldn't be fair. And no, us having different parents doesn't change the fact that we were raised together and she'll always be my sister, but it would still affect her. And I'm sure that's where her mind would go.
We're at the Byers residence packing up a few final boxes for their move. I can't say that I blame Joyce for getting her family the hell out of here. I can't wait for graduation. This town will be in my rearview mirror the moment that diploma hits my hand. "Hey. Got more packing tape." Lila says, handing it to me. Delilah and Robin have been spending a lot of time together since the mall burned down. It's cute whenever they talk about one another. Their faces light up. Steve and I talk about them the way Delilah used to talk about us. We can't wait for them to actually realize that they're into one another and both play for the same team. Steve didn't tell me that Robin came out to him, so when I made a joke about how she and Lila should just make out already, he looked at me like I had three heads. I wasn't even thinking when I said it, so it was really hard to try and pull my foot out of my mouth with that one.
Delly and I finish up in the kitchen, then take a couple boxes out to the truck. When we re-enter the house, we see Lucas and Max singing The NeverEnding Story and mocking Dustin. The two of us join in and start dancing around the living room. Dustin gives us all the middle finger and we all return to our tasks. Pretty soon everything is packed up and we're standing outside, saying our last goodbyes. "Don't be a stranger, Byers." I smile, embracing Jonathan. After we pull away, I say goodbye to Will and then Joyce.
"I'm gonna miss you." El says, walking over to me.
"I'm gonna miss you too, kid." I breathe, as we hug and a few tears fall from my eyes. "You're gonna love California. And we'll see each other again, I promise. Max and I will come visit after the school year ends. We'll make a road trip out of it."
"I am so holding you to that." My sister joins us. Jonathan and Will get into his car, while Joyce and El get into the moving truck and we all stand back, watching as they drive away. Things are never going to be the same...
