I’d never given much thought to how I would die.

But dying in the place of somebody I love — that seems like a good way to go.

So, I can’t bring myself to regret the decision to leave home. I’ll miss Phoenix — I’ll miss the heat, the endless sun, my loving, erratic, harebrained mother and her new husband. But this….. this feels right.

“Emily, come on! We’ve got a plane to catch!

Mike’s voice pulled me out of my thoughts.

They wanted to start a new road together, and I—well, I was taking mine. I’d spend some time with my dad. Maybe it would be a good thing.

As the car drove off, I watched Phoenix fade into the horizon, sunlight melting into memory.

⸻

In the state of Washington, under a near-constant cover of cloud and rain, there’s a small town called Forks — population 3,120.

That’s where I’m moving.

My dad is Charlie. He’s the Chief of Police.

When I stepped out of the truck, the air was cold and damp.

Charlie’s face lit up with the same shy, proud smile I remembered from childhood.

“Your hair’s longer,” he said, pulling me into a hug.

“I chopped it the last time I saw you,” I laughed.

“Guess it grew back again.”

He chuckled, grabbing my bag and leading me inside.

“I cleared some shelves off in the bathroom,” he said.

Right. One bathroom,” I teased, following him up the stairs.

He pointed to the room at the end of the hall.

“The sales lady picked out the bed stuff. You like dark purple, right?”

“Purple’s cool,” I smiled. “Thanks.”

He nodded once, the way Charlie always did — quiet, awkward, but full of care — and left me to unpack.

One of the best things about my dad? He doesn’t hover.

⸻

A honk sounded outside — beep, beep!

Charlie looked out the window.

“Billy!” he called, heading out the door

I followed, stepping into the damp air.

Good to see you, Charlie! Billy greeted, grinning from his wheelchair.

Good to see you, man, Charlie replied, clapping his shoulder.

Tessa, you remember Billy Black?”

Yeah, I said softly.

“Wow, you’re looking good, kid,” Billy said with a warm laugh.I’m still dancing, you know.I’m glad you’re finally here. Charlie hasn’t shut up about it since you told him you were coming.”

“Alright, keep exaggerating,” Charlie smirked. “I’ll roll you into the mud.”

“After I ram you in the ankle!” Billy shot back, spinning his wheelchair toward him as they both burst into laughter.

“Hi, I’m Jack,” a voice said beside me.

“Hey,” I replied.

“We used to make mud pies when we were little,” he added with a shy grind.

“Right. No, I remember,” I said, smiling faintly.

We turned to watch the two men play-fight, rolling around like boys.

“Are they always like this?” I asked.

“It gets worse with age,” Jack said, laughing.

“Good,” I replied.

Then Charlie turned to me, eyes bright.

“So, what do you think?” he asked, slapping the hood of an old black truck.

“Of what?”

“Your homecoming present,” he said with a grind.My eyes widened.

“Are you serious?”

“Just bought it off Billy here,” Charlie said.

“Totally rebuilt the engine myself,” Jack added proudly.

“Come on—oh my gosh, this is perfect! Are you joking me?” I gasped, running my hands over the truck’s cold metal.

Charlie grinned.

“Told you she’d love it.”

“I’m down with the kids,” Billy said, laughing.

“Oh, you’re the bomb!” Charlie said laughing with him.

The snow began to fall — soft, endless — the way it always does in Forks.

And as I stood there, feeling the cool drops on my face, I realized:

This is where my new story begins.