Turning the lock to her apartment was one of the few things in life Grace was still familiar with, as was twisting the handle and opening the door. But when her sneaker pressed down on the gray carpet of the hallway... that was something she hadn't done in over six months.

Everything looked the same. From the stains of Thea's mocha last year just outside their doorway when she'd struggled to juggle her keys, books and drinks, to the terrible lighting that adorned the ceiling.

Grace knelt down and touched the stain, remembering the moment all too well. She'd been carrying six bags of groceries at the time; preparations for their movie marathon that night with the same line-up her and Jesse had watched the night before. Morgan had been out of town visiting her parents, but Josie came over about an hour later. It'd been like pulling teeth to pry her away from her boyfriend for one night.

The elevator button was cold beneath Grace's finger when she pressed it, hitting the button to go up. There were three more floors above them, then the roof. She wasn't quite ready to go down to the streets and join the living, but Grace had felt the overwhelming urge to do something all day. Anything that proved what she suspected.

There was a chill in the night air, despite it being nearly summer now. Because she hadn't stepped foot in the outdoors in forever, the temperature that would feel almost refreshing, or at least normal, stung her skin and Grace wrapped her arms around her body for warmth that did not come.

Standing on the rooftop of the apartment, staring off into her city at night, Grace couldn't help but marvel at the scattered lights and the people rushing through their nights. Hurrying from day to night, then back to day. Over and over again until they reached their end.

She remembered all the adults in her life growing up, seeing them work day in and day out, always wanting more instead of cherishing the little and beautiful things they already had. They told themselves they needed something extra. More money. More respect. More something. All while the things so many took for granted withered away in the background.

Then there was Grace, not rushing through anything, yet allowing life to pass her by all the same.

"What are you doing up here?"

Grace turned at the sound of his voice, not knowing how he could have possibly thought to find her up on that roof, but not caring enough to ask. "Just thinking of all the lives walking around down there. Looking at my city and never realizing how beautiful it was."

"You're at peace." His voice was a whisper, yet still carried over to her like a leaf in the wind.

Grace turned her head to give her city one last look before walking over to Jesse. "I am. I don't know why, but ever since you left last night, I've been thinking about my life and I feel ready to move on. It feels like it's time."

Except she knew why, and Grace hoped that deep down he did as well. The kiss they'd shared and the emotions that came with it weren't something she'd ever expected. That small moment made her feel alive again.

"I think we should talk about the kiss."

Jesse's hand went up to rub his neck as his eyes shifted away from her, toward the starry night. "I'm not sure if this is the right time for that discussion."

Uncertain of how to respond, Grace nodded her agreement. She may have been young and out of practice when it came to men, but she knew what that meant. The kiss gave her the strength to fight through the pain of the past. It made her want more for herself. He didn't want to erase what the kiss brought out in Grace, but based on the way he avoided her stare, Jesse hadn't felt quite as strongly about it.

"However you felt about it, I'm happy it happened," Grace said, speaking mostly the truth. She wanted him to have enjoyed kissing her, wanted the moment to not only belong to her, but Grace couldn't force him to feel a certain way about her, and wouldn't try. She was still a patient, in a way, and he was still her father's friend, probably seeing himself as too old for her. "It gave me the push I needed. I think I'm ready."

The smile that appeared on Jesse's face wasn't like any she'd seen before. His lips curved upward, but it didn't feel like a smile at all. "Let's head back to the apartment."

There was no encouraging her to step back into her city and join all the rushing people down there in the streets. No words of encouragement or pride. Instead, Jesse walked over to the door and held it open for her, and Grace reluctantly walked through.

He remained quiet as they took the elevator down to her floor, quiet as they walked the hallways, and quiet as his hand reached out and turned the knob to her apartment.

When Grace flicked on the lights, the apartment was empty. No pile of clothes sitting in the laundry basket she'd left by the door. No dishes in the sink. No couch or rug or his favorite chair to sit in. No pictures on the wall of the ones she'd lost.

"What the hell is this?"

Jesse walked past her as if nothing was different, then stopped where her living room table once was and looked at her. "You said it was time to move on, and you can feel it, otherwise it wouldn't be like this."

Grace shook her head, her blonde hair falling in front of her eyes. When she moved it, everything was still missing. She wasn't going crazy. "Can you please tell me what's happening here?"

"You died," Jesse spoke.