Noona felt a warmth surge through her chest as the glow from her hands intensified. The air around Irin shimmered, and for a heartbeat, the stillness seemed absolute—then a soft gasp broke the silence.
Irin's eyelids fluttered. Her fingers twitched, then her arms, until finally, she slowly sat up, blinking against the dim light.
Noona's eyes widened, disbelief and relief flooding her features. "Irin… you're… alive?" Her voice cracked with emotion.
Irin coughed softly, her lips trembling, and managed a weak smile. "Noona… what… what happened?"
Tears spilled down Noona's cheeks as she rushed forward, wrapping her friend in a tight embrace. "It's okay… it's all okay now. I brought you back. You're safe."
Irin's hands clutched Noona's shoulders, still trembling. "I… I don't understand… how…?"
"No one needs to understand," Noona whispered, pressing her forehead against Irin's. "All that matters is that you're here. Let's go home… to Mintra's. Green curry, khanom jeen… everything we missed."
A small, genuine laugh escaped Irin, shaky but real. For the first time since the tragedy, the room seemed to breathe with life again. Outside, the shadows still lingered, but in that moment, it felt as if Noona's light could hold them at bay forever.