Chapter 20 Maxwell had finally made up his mind to leave . All along , he thought Zoey couldn't live without him . But now , he realized - it was him who couldn't live without her . A world without Zoey was unbearable . Even the air felt thinner , suffocating . Every night , without fail , he dreamed of her - her face blurred , impossible to see clearly . Every time he reached out , desperate to hold her , she would vanish into nothing . Jerking awake , drenched in cold sweat , he muttered into the hollow dark , " Is this the punishment you left me , Zoey ? " Sleep became impossible . Night after night , his eyes stayed open , ringed in dark bruises . Dr. Willow watched this spiral and sighed , knowing it couldn't go on . He quietly handed over sleeping pills . Maxwell held one of Zoey's old shirts in his arms that night . For the first time in what felt like forever , he fell asleep . But even Zoey didn't expect that somehow ... she would end up inside his dream . In the dream , Maxwell was a child again . His tiny hands clutched a necklace . His face was twisted in anger , glaring at the world like a cornered gray wolf . " Mom ... why aren't you coming to get me ? No one's allowed to touch my mom ! " The faces around him were featureless - shadows , like demons . They clawed at him , snatched the necklace from his fists . The family photo on the wall was frozen in time . He was five years old . Zoey remembered - his mother had died that year . She knelt down , gathered the helpless little boy into her arms , and held him tight . Watching the real - world version of him fall apart , she quietly thought , ' At least here ... in this dream ... I can give him some peace . ' But his tears soaked through her clothes . He tilted his tiny face up , blinking at her . " You're not Mom ... Who are you ? " Zoey stiffened . She had no idea how to answer that question . Her identity in this moment didn't really fit anywhere . After a pause , she said , " I'm ... I'm an angel . The heavens sent me to save you . " That was all it took . This version of Maxwell was still so innocent , so easily comforted . He sniffled and gave her the sweetest grin . " My angel ... " But Zoey soon realized ... his childhood wasn't anything like she imagined . His father paraded mistress after mistress through the house . When he wasn't ignoring Maxwell , he was hitting him or screaming . Maxwell grew quieter and quieter , retreating into himself , hiding away in his room . The door never opened again . But through the cracks came endless shouting , crashes , curses - sounds loud enough to shatter a child's entire world . Every time it started , Zoey would pull him into her arms , whispering over and over , " Don't be scared ... don't be scared ... " She began singing the same lullaby Maxwell once used to coax her to sleep . And just like magic , the melody still worked . He drifted off in her arms . By the end of that one single night , the child Maxwell had spilled all his secrets to her . 1/2 Chapter 20 +25 BONUS He confessed , in the tiniest voice , that he didn't actually want to be a " good boy . " But both his parents had told him that if he weren't a good boy , no one would love him . Then , with empty , aching eyes , he looked up at her . " But ... I've been good . I've been really good . Why don't they love me ? " Zoey's heart twisted until it hurt . All the painful memories from before seemed to dissolve in that moment . The only thing that remained was this man - cold on the outside , but still a lost , hurting little boy deep inside . But her time was running out . She could only stay in the human world for fourteen days . Fourteen days ... and then she would be forced to move onto her new life . When Maxwell woke up the next morning , it was the first time he'd slept soundly in . He didn't even know how long . But the moment his eyes opened , emptiness rushed in . He was sure he had dreamed of Zoey . For the first time , the man who lived by sleepless nights did everything he could to fall asleep early again . Desperate , frantic ... he downed sleeping pills by the handful , just to see her again . But this time ... she didn't come . Instead , in the middle of the night , Dr. Willow had to rush him to the hospital for emergency gastric lavage . The doctor's voice was harsh and furious . " You took too many . One more pill and you wouldn't have made it . " Dr. Willow was shaking with anger and helplessness , fists clenched as he snapped , " Maxwell , are you trying to die ?! You think Zoey would be happy to see you like this ?! " But Maxwell just smiled . A dazed , foolish , and utterly broken smile . " Dr. Willow ... I saw Zoey . I really saw her . She held me . She told me stories . She said ... I was the cutest little boy in the world Please ... I'm begging you ... don't stop me . " Dr. Willow slammed his hand on the table , his voice trembling with rage . " Yeah , sure - you saw her . But you almost died ! You think this is okay ? You're not scared of dying ?! " Maxwell's answer stunned the entire room into silence . His voice was eerily calm . " I'm not scared . She's waiting for me ... on the other side . As long as I can see her again ... nothing else matters . "