──────────

𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐎𝐖𝐍𝐄𝐑𝐒

──────────

A couple of months had passed since the Harmons' tragic deaths, and already there were new prospective buyers for the house. Sunshine had handed her son to his paternal grandmother to raise; as flawed as Constance was, Sunshine preferred her son to be close to her over anyone else—especially her sanctimonious Aunt Jo.

Sunshine was beginning to get the hang of her new reality, adjusting to the quirks of the afterlife. She and Violet were perched near the dining room as they watched Troy and Bryan toss pop-its at the new boy. He stumbled off his skateboard, wincing, and the girls broke into a fit laughter.

Sunshine strolled over to the skateboard, giving it a light kick with her foot. It rolled lazily back toward the teenage boy, who froze, staring at it as though it had a mind of its own. His eyes widened, a hint of fear creeping across his face as he glanced around, half-expecting to see someone—or something—nearby.

"He's kind of cute," Violet remarked.

"Oh? Did you have a change of heart, Vi?"

Violet scoffed, rolling her eyes. "Ew, no. I meant for you."

Sunshine watched as he exchanged a few words with his father, then turned and left the room. Her eyes lingered on the door he'd passed through.

She knew she wasn't ready to move on from her last relationship. And the thought of putting someone else at risk made her hesitate. Still, the idea of a distraction, something to break up the monotony of this place, was tempting.

──────────

"Violet, this is insane." Sunshine shifted nervously in what used to be her old bedroom as Violet rifled through the new boy's music collection—the boy they quickly learned was named Gabe.

"Calm down," Violet rolled her eyes.

Sunshine pressed her lips into a tight line just as Gabe walked in, a confused look crossing his face as he held his skateboard. "Who are you?" he asked, looking between the two sisters.

"You have awful taste in music," Violet remarked, barely glancing back at him. "Butthole Surfers?"

Gabe blinked, still trying to catch up. "Hello? Breaking and entering. Who are you?" His eyes darted between them, but Sunshine stayed quiet, watching her sister's bold introduction. It was good to see Violet trying to make friends, even if it hadn't ended well before.

"A ghost of my former self," Violet joked, holding out her hand. "Violet. We live in the neighborhood."

Gabe shook it, then turned his attention to Sunshine.

She waved awkwardly, managing a small smile. "Hi. I'm Sunshine."

He took a step forward, holding out his hand for her to shake. As she took it, he seemed to look her over curiously. "Your hand's cold," he remarked, though he didn't let go right away.

Sunshine laughed nervously, pulling her hand back gently. "Yeah."

"You know what they say. Cold hands, warm heart." Violet smirked, scooping up a box of CDs and dumping them onto his bed.

"Yo!" Gabe protested.

"Violet," Sunshine whispered, closing her eyes, embarrassed.

"Don't you have any Ramones? Like Animal Boy or Too Tough to Die?" Violet continued, ignoring him as she combed through the pile.

"Hey. Get out of my room." Gabe pointed toward the door.

Violet raised an eyebrow, ignoring his request. "Are you sure you want to be alone? They say this house is haunted."

Gabe shot them a bewildered look. "You two are kind of twisted, aren't you?"

Sunshine tilted her head slightly. "You don't know the half of it."

──────────

Sunshine sat up from her reclined position on the couch, a book she'd snagged from the mother of the house open in her lap. Suddenly, loud screams echoed through the house, drawing her attention. She quickly climbed the stairs, the sound growing louder as she approached her old bedroom.

"Please... don't kill me." She recognized Gabe's voice, trembling with fear.

"Oh, it's nothing personal," Tate's voice came through, unsteady. "She's all alone, and that's just not right!" There was a tense shuffle, then Tate's voice again, commanding and harsh. "Stand up! Stop that—turn around."

Sunshine rushed into the room to see Tate holding a knife to Gabe's throat, their backs turned toward her. She stepped forward, placing a steady hand on Tate's shoulder. "Tate... put it down... please."

He didn't turn, but his grip faltered slightly. "I can't. I'm doing this for you. I couldn't save you... it's my fault you're alone."

"Hey," Sunshine brushed his hair out of his face, trying to catch his gaze. "I'm fine. I have my family here."

"It's not enough," he whispered, voice shaking his pain. "You need someone."

"I don't want him," she murmured, desperation in her voice. "Please, Tate... stop."

Tate finally looked at her, eyes full of tears and pleading. "Then what do you want?"

"I want you, baby," she said softly, cupping his face in her hands.

A glimmer of hope lit up his expression as he melted into her touch, loosening his grip on Gabe just enough for him to break free and bolt from the room. But Tate barely noticed, captivated by her touch.

Sunshine blinked away her own tears. "If you can show me you've really changed... then one day, I'd reconsider being with you again, okay?"

He nodded, tears slipping down his cheeks. She wiped them away tenderly, her own heart breaking.

"Until then... goodbye." Her voice cracked as she swallowed back a sob, and she leaned in, pressing a desperate kiss to his tear-stained lips. When she pulled away, she vanished, leaving Tate alone in the room, holding onto the memory of her touch.

──────────

After the Ruivivars moved out, several months passed, and Christmas arrived once more. Sunshine moved around the tree, spreading out the branches with care, while Violet stood on a chair, fluffing the branches at the top.

Moira approached them, holding a dusty box of ornaments. "I found these in the attic," she said, offering a small smile.

Violet lifted one of the ornaments, examining it with a raised brow. "Wow. These ornaments are ancient."

Moira chuckled softly. "I suppose they are. In time, Violet, the word 'ancient' will lose all its meaning. When your existence becomes one endless today, age feels like nothing at all."

Sunshine's smile faltered. She'd never grow old, never have another child or marry. Her son, so close yet so far, lived just outside these walls. Every day she watched for him, catching only fleeting glimpses when Constance took him outside. She'd wave, and Constance would wave back, but that was all she could have—just a glimpse.

"Okay, everybody ready?" Ben's voice cut through her thoughts, and she looked up as he held the plug for the extension cord. With a smile, he plugged it in, and the tree lit up in a warm, golden glow. Sunshine's face softened, her smile returning.

"Look at that!" Ben said proudly, circling the tree. "Chopped it down myself. Have you ever seen anything so beautiful?"

"I have," Vivien's voice came from behind, and Sunshine turned to see her mother holding a tiny bundle in her arms. Vivien moved beside Ben, gazing down at the baby boy she carried. After her murder, they hadn't expected the child to attach to the home, but Nora, overwhelmed with him, had handed him back to Vivien soon after his death.

"Look at him," Vivien cooed, glancing down. "He's amazing. The best temperament—hardly ever cries. Looks just like his daddy." She and Ben exchanged a loving smile before sharing a soft kiss.

Sunshine and Violet exchanged a glance, sharing a moment of wordless understanding. Despite everything, despite the tragedy that had led them here, they were a family again.

──────────