Chapter 23 After that , Zoey's body grew thinner and more transparent with each passing day . And yet , Maxwell started to change . He began living with a kind of quiet determination , as though he'd finally found something worth holding onto . Dr. Willow was relieved to see it . Pleased , even . But when Zoey looked into Maxwell's eyes , all she could see was despair and hopelessness . Still , there was nothing more she could do . Her time had come . She was finally allowed to move on to her next life . On the day Maxwell held her funeral - her real funeral this time - the entire class showed up . For every person who came , Maxwell would quietly explain everything . The truth about back then . About how he had wronged Zoey . The more he said it , the more the others fell silent . They all knew . They'd always known . They'd seen it too - that Zoey hadn't been living well with him . That pain she carried wasn't invisible . Some of them even remembered the time she was so desperate , she tried to take her own life . But no one ever talked about it. No one ever dared . Dr. Willow came too . He stood there with his head lowered , quietly whispering apologies . " I'm sorry ... I'm so sorry . If only ... If only I had realized it sooner ... maybe you wouldn't have suffered so much , Zoey . " But Zoey had let go of all hate . Not even a trace of resentment lingered . Her time in this world was ending . It was time for her to move on . Maxwell handled every last detail of the funeral himself . The space was filled with her favorite orchids - butterfly orchids in every corner . Even the urn was crafted with the pattern she loved most . Dr. Willow couldn't help but chuckle quietly . " Even the urn has to be this pretty ? " he teased . But only he knew ... Zoey was watching . She could see it all . 1 The funeral portrait was cropped from a photo of the two of them together . When the person working on it hesitated , they'd awkwardly asked , " Using a photo with someone living ... that's not ... exactly lucky , you know . " But Maxwell simply smiled . " It's fine . Use it . There's nothing else left . " Except there was . All of Zoey's photos were neatly stored away - he had saved every single one of them . She didn't understand why he chose this photo . But then again ... maybe it didn't matter anymore . Soon , Zoey felt her body grow weightless , like a feather caught on wind . And suddenly ... every memory of her life played before her eyes . Most of them were of Maxwell . She'd fallen for him when they were just kids . Loved everything about him . 1/2 Chapter 23 From that moment on , she started chasing him . But she wasn't like the others . Zoey never gave up . +25 BONUS When he was sad , she stayed by his side , making him laugh . Like a little sun , she forced her way into his life . And later , when they finally started dating , he prepared a surprise for her every single day . Without fail . The last memory froze - her smiling , holding up a pull - tab ring from a soda can , looking straight at him . Her voice was bright and full of laughter . " Maxwell ... marry me , okay ? I swear , I'll be your bride . " Zoey smiled . Slowly , she closed her eyes . Her body grew lighter ... lighter ... until it felt like she was floating right back into her mother's arms . Ahead , a beam of white light opened . Zoey followed it forward ... step by step ... And at the very end of the path , a little figure came bouncing toward her . " Mommy ! You're finally here ! " Zoey knelt down , scooping Callie into her arms , holding her tight . She promised , " I hope ... in the next life ... I can really be your mother . " Callie grinned and nodded . " You will . I know you will . " Fingers entwined , the two of them walked forward toward Zoey's brand - new life . $