Two months have passed and my father has kept his word. We have spent the whole summer together. Well not every waking moment because I have to make room for Joel as well. My Grandparents were alright with my father coming around. They thought that it would be good for my soul. They hoped that it would bring me back to life. Really they just wanted me to eat more and put more meat on my bones. That's Grandma saying anyway. And maybe I could use a few extra pounds. I'm sure Dr. Givens would approve everything as well. Just knowing that I am happy now is all that really matters anyway.

Joel took me to the graveyard yesterday so that I could talk with my parents. I still call them that because they did care for me all those years, without them who knows where I would be today. I placed a bouquet of flowers between them and sat down looking at the ground for some quite time while Joel waited in the car. I told them that I found my real father and he is pretty cool. I now knew all about my real mother and how she died having me. I talked to them about Joel and the fact that I think he is the perfect one for me, my soul mate. Yeah, I know I am young but there is that feeling deep inside of me that says that he is the one. I looked over at Josh's headstone and tears came to my eyes. He was a good brother even though there were times that he did get on my nerves. I told him that he would make a good friend for someone up there in heaven. I let them know how much that I missed them and that life sometimes is just not fair. When I was finished I got up, wiping the tears away and headed back to Joel. He embraced me for a long time before leaving.

"Everything is going to be alright." He hugged me closer.

"I know. It's going to take time. At least I have you now and my father. It's weird how things turn out sometimes." I reached up and kissed him. "I love you, Joel."

He kissed me back. "I love you to Shay."

After the visit we went to the lake to catch up with friends from school and Brooke was there as well. She had just gotten back from her summer vacation. I told her all about my father and about the real me.

She was shocked. "You mean were not really cousins after all?" she sounded a little disappointed.

I told her not really, but I still felt like she was and always would be to me. She was shocked that I had not been wearing a black bathing suit either. Instead I was wearing a lime green two piece with little frogs on it. I had painted my nails a lime green as well and even had matching flip flops, a purse and matching lime green shades. I would make sure that the two of us would go shopping before school started again and she could help me with brightening up my wardrobe. Maybe color is not such a bad thing after all.

I also called Andrea up and explained everything that had been going on. She couldn't believe that I was actually left in an abandon old house. So all these years the dreams, the visions and my writing were real. She had known all about the black box that hid nicely in the back of the closet. As for the amulet, she truly believed it had saved my life as well. As for Joel, she said that she could not wait to meet him in the spring the following year during Spring Break. Of course she would not bring Jake this time around. Maybe my life was turning around for the best.

I got a glimpse of Isaiah in the corner of my eye while I was talking with Andrea. I proceeded to put my lime green shades on, pretending that I did not see him standing close by. Just as I told her good bye and dropped the phone in my bag, I turned my head the other way; far as I was concerned he was not my friend after all. He had tricked me from the very beginning. The very first day of therapy he knew who I was and his job was to get me to go back to Shady Grove. He lied to me this whole entire time. He had tried to come up to talk with me, but Joel grabbed me by the hand and we went out into the water for a swim. Splashing and dipping each other under the water. When we landed back on the beach, Brooke took a picture of us, dripping wet into each other's arms.

"Thanks Brooke, another beach picture to go with my collection." I laughed.

"Yeah! There are never enough pictures." She laughed back.

I couldn't stop myself to search for Isaiah on the beach. And when I did spot him again he was staring back at me. There was no reason for us to talk with each other because our eyes did all the talking for us. I watched as he looked down at the sand and then towards the water shaking his head in disbelief and then leaving in his car all alone.

That's when I had noticed the sports car. I looked back around and the football guys were playing a game on the far side while the cheerleaders were attempting to get a tan but would probably come out over baked, burnt red.

I felt Joel's arms wrap around me, then whispering in my ear to get out of there.

"Are you ready to go?"

"Yeah!" I smiled and we headed back to his place.

As for today, it's just me and Joel riding Catori. She is the freedom, the peacemaker between heaven and hell. When I am with him out here in the open, I feel alive and free. We have gotten very close but still haven't gone all the way. We decided to hold off, mainly because we have much more to look forward to, like senior prom, graduation, college and so on. There is no need to rush life away, when you have a lifetime a head of you. And besides his lips on mine was all the heat I needed for the moment.

I haven't decided what to do this year. I am going to be a senior after all. School is just in a couple of weeks and I am planning on having a great year without Mr. Foster in it. I don't know exactly what happened to him but on the front page of the newspaper he was found beaten to death and was in critical condition at the general hospital. He had made a statement saying that he was resigning from his position. No claims to who would have hurt the teacher, but something tells me that my father had something to do with it.

As for my home life, it has been running crazily through my head. I would like to live with my father for a while to get to know him better then again I know I need to stay with my Grandparents. They deserve to be with me just as much as he does. Maybe I can have both. It sure was nice to have a dad around that believed in me and knew all about my secret powers. Not once did he scold me for telling him a dream or sharing my drawings with him. I can't believe I opened up the black box for him, letting him into my world, my past, and my future.

As for my mother, I haven't had any bad dreams lately. I wear her amulet everyday for my protection. I shower with it, sleep with it and do everything else with it. I refuse to take it off because the moment I do, they will be here to get me. I know they still lurk behind the trees and other places to watch me. Waiting to get their hands on me, waiting for every sip of my blood, waiting for my soul.

The wind chimes still sparkle in the sunlight above my window to keep me safe. I also had planted several Hyssops' all around the house to ward away all evil spirits. Call me superstitious but for now I am safe with Kamilah's amulet shielding me from all evil. Who knows what tomorrow will bring.

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"Life is not easy for any of us. But what of that? We must believe that we are gifted for something and that this thing....must be attained."

-Marie Curie

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Sorry this story has come to an end, however I am positive that Shayla can manage in her new world, her life with her father, her soul-mate Joel and with her Mother's Amulet. If you have enjoyed reading please vote, make comments. I also plan to add this to the Wattys, so wish me luck.