Silvercity was stirring with change, though few understood why. For George, everything had taken on a different color since Mariana's message. Her words lingered in his mind like a song he couldn't stop humming. She's coming home. The words echoed with warmth and longing.
He wasted no time. The first thing he did was visit his grandparents. Lucia and John Green were in the garden, tending to the marigolds that Mary—Mariana—used to love.
"She's coming back," George said simply, his voice tight with emotion.
Lucia dropped the trowel in her hand, eyes widening. John placed a hand on her back, steadying her.
"She's… alive?" Lucia whispered.
"She never truly left," George replied. "She'll be back soon. I don't know exactly how, but I need your help to welcome her."
Lucia's eyes filled with tears, but she smiled through them. "Tell us what you need."
Soon, the family house was full of movement. New curtains were hung. Fresh flowers filled every corner. George arranged a gathering—close friends, the foundation team, and a few people who had known Mariana only as a generous stranger, unaware of the deep history between them.
At the same time, George composed a heartfelt message to her adoptive parents—Laura and Stuart Henderson. They had become Mariana's anchor in the world after her rebirth. He wanted them to be part of this, too. He sent the invitation with a note:
> "Your daughter changed our lives. I'd be honored if you could come to Silvercity to welcome her home."
Meanwhile, James sat quietly in his own space, replaying old memories, some beautiful, many painful. He stared at an old photo of Mary and George from years ago. Guilt clung to him like smoke, but beneath it, a fragile hope flickered. He didn't know what the future held, but he knew one thing—he'd stand beside his son and accept whatever came.
Back in the small world, Mariana sat beneath a glowing tree, the portal forming behind her. Her system blinked gently.
> "Portal stabilized. Destination: Silvercity."
She stood, heart thumping, and whispered, "Home."
With a flash of light, the journey began.