Lizzie sniffled as she looked at the picture once again and tucked it into the pocket of her sweats.

She took another deep breath as she turned to leave. It almost looked like it was hurting for her to walk away. I watched my sister take steps to the door and I realized that this was going to be the last time I was going to see her.

There would be no more petty arguments, no more sneaking out, and no more gossiping about girls at school. She would move on and hopefully be happy again and I would be gone.

Who knew that the little girls who would give out lemonade at the street corner in their neighborhood would have to separate this way. I had always hoped that I would be saying goodbye to her when she graduated college but this was how things turned out.

Like my body had a mind of its own, I ran to my bedroom door and shut it. Lizzie jumped at the scene and looked around in fear. I understood why she was terrified, I would've been too.

But just watching her leave and doing nothing? Letting her live the rest of her life without closure? That hurt more than the thought of any death that I would've had to endure.

She moved to turn the doorknob but I held the door closed. Her movements became frantic and she started pounding on the door. "Mom!"

Before she could make another move I wrapped my arm around her wrist gently. I was surprised that I could touch her but I was hoping that since I could touch everything in here, I could touch her as well.

Her eyes widened at my hold and she opened her mouth to scream but I pulled her into a tight hug.

I breathed in her familiar scent and began shaking as tears rolled down my face. I used to wish that she was out of my life and now I wanted nothing more than to be in hers. But I knew that was no longer possible. So this goodbye would have to be more than enough.

Lizzie's body tensed and I felt her heart race. I slowly pulled away from her and she was frozen in her spot. I reached out to hold her hand and she looked down at it.

To her it probably looked like her hand was floating, but I knew she felt something.

"Liyah?" She asked softly.

I wiggled her hand softly to say yes and she grinned as she cried softly.

"How- I can't-..." She stuttered in shock.

I pulled her into a hug once again and this time she relaxed in my hold as she sobbed.

"I'm so sorry." She croaked in her fragile voice.

Sorry for what?

Of course, she couldn't hear me but I still had no clue what she could've been talking about.

"It's my fault." She sobbed as I rubbed her back to comfort her. "We should have believed you."

There it is. That was what she was apologizing for. I didn't know that I needed to hear it that bad until it reached my ears. I hugged her tighter and hoped that she would get the message that I forgive her.

Even if I didn't I would've let her believe I did. I couldn't be the reason why my family endured any more pain.

"I have so much I want to say to you." She said softly.

So do I.

But I couldn't. She needed to leave and I wouldn't let her stay here, where she was in danger.

I tore myself away from her hug and my heart ached as I put her hand onto the doorknob. She had to go no matter how much I didn't want her to.

"Lizzie! Your grandmother is here, I'll take your things to the car. Meet us there!" My mother called again.

Lizzie shook her head and snatched her hand away from the door. She stepped further into the room and sat on the bed.

"I am not leaving." She said. "I want to stay with you."

You can't.

I walked to where she was sitting and pulled her arm but she thrashed in my hold and managed to get free.

"Aaliyah, please." She begged as an uncontrollable sob escaped her. "We can stay here together."

We can't.

"I know you saved me the other night, Aaliyah."

I grabbed her hand once again but she moved away from me.

"I'm not leaving you here." She said. "I'm not sure how death works but I don't think you're supposed to be here. I'm not going to leave you alone!" She yelled.