Sara Shepard: Seven Minutes in Heaven

And then I felt myself drifting, slowly detaching from the world I’d always known. For a split second, panic shot through me. I wasn’t ready. I didn’t want to leave them. But then my eyes fell on the tree, on our little silver stars. Laurel had hung hers just below Emma’s. I understood then. We were a constellation. We would always be together.

I turned toward Emma, the twin sister I never got to meet in person, who’d lived my life and brought me peace, even though it had nearly cost her everything. “Thank you,” I whispered.

In the reflection of the stars, I saw my form glowing brilliant silver-gold, getting brighter and brighter until I couldn’t even look at myself. I was turning into energy, pure and vibrant. I took a last look at my family, my constellation, beautiful and bright.

“Remember me,” I said, knowing they would. And then, as fast as a shooting star, I was gone.

Thank you to everyone who made this series possible, including Lanie Davis, Sara Shandler, Katie McGee, Josh Bank, and Les Morgenstein at Alloy, as well as Kristin Marang and her digital team. Also thanks to Kari Sutherland and the Harper team for all their good thoughts and proper direction. And to Jen Graham: You are truly amazing and beyond helpful. I don’t know what I’d do without you!

Also a shout-out to the people at Alloy Entertainment LA and ABC Family—I love what you have done with the TV show, and I hope the fun continues! And thanks, too, to all the readers of this series—I hope you’ve followed the mystery to the very end. I love hearing from you—please don’t stop the tweets, letters, and comments. Hooray!