Maria clapped both hands over her mouth, trembling. She lunged forward to hug her sisters. Miraculously, they felt solid under her hands as they hugged her back. "Tell Mama what I did, okay? Tell her that I'm safe and happy but that I wanted you to have a second chance." She pressed her face into Elizabeth's hair. "Win your competition for me, alright, sweetie? Win that competition and get your college scholarship and the big sparkly trophy." She bit her lip to keep from crying as she turned to Anna. "Anna, sweetie, don't cry." But then she lost control, crying too. "Oh my gods, sweetie, I'm going to miss you so much. I'll be waiting for you when you come back here, I'll be waiting and then we'll never leave each other ever again." She pulled Elizabeth into another hug, her whole body trembling from keeping her emotions in. "You've got to go now, girls. I love you and I'll miss you." She forced herself to her feet, wishing that Anna wouldn't cling to her leg that way. "Anna, go with Liza. Please, Anna. Go with Liza and go to Mama, and remember me, but don't grieve." The tears ran out of her eyes. "Anna, please, go with Liza." Elizabeth grabbed her arm and pulled her away, and she screamed, crying to get back to Maria. But Liza was stronger and held Anna until she calmed down. "Goodbye, girls." Maria whispered, turning away lest she burst into tears again in front of the girls. She faced Thanatos. "Thank you, sir. C-can you... Can you send them on their way n-now? I... I c-can't..." The tears trickled down her cheeks.
"Goodbye, Maria. I love you." Liza called.
"I'll miss you, Maria." Anna said, awfully choked up, and burst into tears again.