Chapter 22 Dr. Willow hired someone to perform a ritual . Zoey could feel her soul being pulled by an invisible force . The medium caught sight of her form and immediately shut his eyes tight - because the way Zoey looked after death was simply ... too horrifying . But this time , it wasn't Maxwell calling for her . It was Dr. Willow . Zoey had spent enough time with Dr. Willow to know that he was a soft - hearted man . Especially after all these years of caring for Maxwell . Still ... she never imagined that the moment he found out she was still lingering in this world , not yet reincarnated , he would simply ... cry . Tears rolled down his face . And it was the kind of grief that could shake anyone . " Zoey ... " His voice trembled . " It's true ... Mr. Porter wronged you . But ... I'm begging you . Could you ... could you help him ? I've watched him grow up . I used to think it was you who couldn't live without him . I was wrong . So wrong . " Now ... now he won't eat . Won't drink . He's wasting away ... turning into nothing but skin and bones . If you're still here ... please ... please help him stay alive . " I know ... I know you can enter his dreams . Zoey ... I'm begging you . Save him . Please ... " He meant every word . His desperation was real . And even though Zoey was nothing more than a drifting soul now , even she couldn't hold back the ache in her chest . Dr. Willow had always been a staunch materialist - someone who never once believed in ghosts , spirits , or the supernatural . But now , for Maxwell ... he was kneeling and pleading to an existence he couldn't even prove was real . But Zoey ... she was fading . Her time was almost up . What could she even do for him anymore ? And yet ... the moment she saw Maxwell again , her heart shattered completely . 1 He was gaunt . Thin to the point of collapse . That once proud , sharp face now hollowed out ... the only thing still alive were those restless , empty eyes . Dr. Willow hadn't exaggerated . Maxwell was barely hanging on . He really was dying . That night ... Zoey entered Maxwell's dream again . This time ... he appeared just like he had when she first tried to break up with him . Dr. Willow had told her how unbearable that time had been for him . And now ... seeing the scars - deep and shallow - lining his wrists , Zoey rushed forward and threw her arms around him . He stiffened , frozen by the sudden flood of a familiar scent . His eyes slowly lifted , wide with disbelief . " Zoey ... Zoey ... .. why ... why are you here ? " His voice trembled . " Didn't you ... didn't you leave me ? " But this time , Zoey didn't say anything cruel . Didn't push him away . Didn't break his heart all over again . Instead , she clung to him like her life depended on it . Her voice shook as the tears streamed down . " I'm not leaving you . Not ever . Even in death ... I'll still love you . " And just like that ... the cold , suffocating darkness around them broke . Shafts of white light pierced through from all directions . 1/2 Chapter 22 Maxwell stared , stunned , then slowly wrapped his arms around her When he realized she was real - truly here - Zoey broke down completely . +25 BONUS " I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry ... " She cried until her whole body trembled . " You must've suffered so much ... I never meant to punish you I was just ... just so hurt ... every time I remembered the things you said , I couldn't accept it ... I couldn't .... " But now ... now I finally understand . You were suffering too . I'm sorry ... Maxwell ... I'm so , so sorry ... " Maxwell gently wiped her tears and pulled her even tighter into his arms . Because he knew . He knew she was about to leave . So Zoey whispered to him , the same way she used to back then , " I'm just ... going ahead to check the road . After you finish living your life ... and I finish mine .... I'll be waiting for you in the afterlife . So Maxwell ... live . Live well . " " Otherwise ... " Her lips quirked into a trembling smile . " Otherwise , I'll leave . I won't wait for you . " His grief swelled , crashing over him like a wave . His hands trembled as he gripped hers tightly . " No ... no ... I just found you . I'm not letting you go . Let's ... let's stay here . Stay here together ... okay ? " But Zoey's body had already started turning transparent , lifting higher and higher . Maxwell ran after her , stumbling , tripping . He fell to the ground , sobbing so hard it tore from his throat like something broken- " Zoey ... Zoey ... don't leave me ... " But all Zoey could do was leave him one last kiss , pressed against his forehead , and whisper her last words , " Maxwell ... live well . " 2/2