Erin's POV
I zip up the back of my black dress and slide on my heels and stare into the mirror. She's gone. Holtzmann is gone. It hit me hard. The girl I'd slowly fallen for ceased to exist. Had I been there that night at the firehouse when one of her gadgets exploded I could have helped her. But I was tired and selfish. I grabbed my car keys and exited my apartment to start toward the funeral. Jillian Holtzmann's funeral. Never did I think I'd outlive her, but here I am.
I turn on the radio to distract me from my thoughts and Ghost by Halsey comes on and I can no longer hold myself together. I'd given up on doing my makeup because I knew it'd just stream down my face. I look at myself in the mirror and I see the dark circles under my eyes. I haven't slept, I haven't eaten, and I haven't left the house since Abby called me to tell me the worst news I'd ever received in my entire life. That my best friend was gone.
As I pull up to the cemetery I grab the white roses out of my passenger seat. They were her favorite flower.
I begin to walk down the cement path to where she'd be put to rest at last, and I see someone I've never seen before yet she still looked familiar. She had brown hair and sunglasses on yet she had a pointy nose and a gorgeous smile. I brushed it off and walked up to where Jill would be buried 6 feet deep and 3 feet wide.
As the eulogy was being read by Abby I tried to swallow the lump that had begun to grow in my throat but I fought to no avail. Patty was sobbing and Abby could barely read. The brunette however was observing the audience but mainly me. We made eye contact but she looked away quickly.
As the eulogy was finished I rested the roses on her casket and I fell to my knees and began to sob uncontrollably. I couldn't breathe and everything was spinning. The brunette kneeled beside me and grabbed my shoulder and squeezed it reassuringly. "I'm here for you, Erin Gilbert." she said. I looked at her and she pulled down her glasses and I fell back into my hands. It was her. I don't know how, but it was her. "Holtz, is that you?" She nods slowly and stands up, "come with me." she whispers, "I need to talk to you."
I follow Jillian to a black car and we both sit in the back. "Look, Erin. I know you're probably pissed but I had to do this. An old mentor of mine was coming after me so by faking my death, I was keeping everyone safe. I wouldn't have done it if I had any other option. Please believe me. I love you, Erin. I never wanted to hurt you." I look up at her with bloodshot eyes and I rest my hands on hers. "I love you too." She smiles and leans in for a kiss and I do the same.
Minutes later I pull away. "When are you coming back, Jill? We need you." I say pleadingly. "A few months, I have to lay low for a while but then I'll come back." She says seriously and I sit up straight. "Stay with me." I say softly and meet her gaze. "Stay with me till you're done laying low. You can't leave me again." She nods.
---------5 months later--------
I hear the firehouse doors open and in walks Jillian. "Wooooop wooop Holtzmann is back baby."
"WHAT IN THE HELL, JILLIAN?!" I hear Abby yell and then Patty screams. "GILBERT, GET YOUR ASS DOWN HERE!" Abby says and I start down the stairs and meet my girlfriend's gaze. Act surprised. Got it. I speed walk to Holtzmann and press my lips against hers and start crying and we stay in a tight embrace for what seemed like seconds but it was more like 10 minutes. "I love you" I whisper and she does the same. "I'll never leave you. Ever again." She says stoically and grabs my shoulders and brings everyone in for a group hug and then we hear a door open, Kevin. "Woah, did I travel back in time or did you guys figure out how to bring people back from the dead?" and we all smile and look at each other.
