The Summer We Came to Life

Chapter

50





ISABEL. ISABEL, ISABEL, ISABEL. SHE’S RUNNING past me in the grass, a flash of chestnut-colored hair and giggles. “This way, Sammy!” How old is she? Seven, maybe? She turns back and wags a little finger at me. “You’re too slow, Sammy. Sloooowpoke Samantha.” She pokes me and takes off running.



Kendra. Kendra. KendraKendra.

“Samantha, I can’t. I have to study.” Kendra has on those ridiculous horn-rimmed glasses. That means it’s our sophomore year of high school.

“Those aren’t even prescription glasses, you dork.”

Kendra shoots me the look of an exasperated librarian before smiling.



Mina? Mina. Mina!

“Samantha, do you think we’ll be okay without mothers?”

I remember that sleepover. I remember those unicorn pajamas.

I pat Mina on the shoulder. “Of course, silly. We have each other instead.”



KendraMinaIsabel. IsabelKendraMina. Isabel. Kendra. Mina. The names swirl in the turquoise light all around me. No, it isn’t light.



It’s water. It’s ocean water. I’m back in the raging sea, the day I went swimming with Isabel.