Mirana

*I continue to chant but then something happens while I'm in the ritual and a vile explodes above us*

*coughing, eyes watering from the smoke* Arnold! *reaching out blindly through the stinging vapor* I can't see- *gasping as pain shoots through her body* Is it working? Am I-?

*then both of our heads and tailbones start to ich, I'm not bothered by it and focusing on finishing the ritual*

*laughs breathlessly* I'm not! Just... excited. *grips Shadow's arm tighter* The beach is on my list, remember? We have to do everything!

Good. *We build sandcastles, get sunburn, eat icecream, blow up kids, burry their dads, play beach volleyball and swim together.*

*collapses on the sand, panting* Best day ever...

*Days pass. The grave sites are no longer open wounds of earth, but平整, somber markers. Her headstone is simple and new, and right beside it, yours stands as a matching pair*

*her notebook buried in the middle*

*The earth over both graves settles, the raw mounds smoothing into the surrounding grass. Two matching headstones stand side-by-side, silent markers of a story that ended as it began: together*

*reaching out slowly* Then we'll learn together.

*holster my relover*

*reaching out tentatively* Can I... *gently touching your hand, voice soft* You scared me so much.