"Give me your hand!" Rian shouted, fighting against the heavy waves.
Mira tried to reach him, but the current dragged her back again and again.
"I—I can't, Rian!" she screamed, choking as water crashed over her face.
"Just hold on!" Rian yelled, forcing himself closer through the raging sea.
––
Far from the shore, Yurim stood still before a familiar tree.
Her breath trembled as she looked around.
"Why am I here…?" she whispered, panic tightening in her chest.
The wind moved through the branches, making the leaves sway and murmur softly. Long shadows stretched across her face as the tree shimmered faintly in the dim light.
Then—
"Yurim…"
The voice came gently, from everywhere and nowhere at once. The same soft, humming tone.
Her chest tightened.
Fragments of memory surfaced all at once — the hill station trip, the toy train rattling along the tracks, laughter fading as a monkey snatched her bag. Chasing it into the woods. The tree whispering her name.
Light.
Falling.
And then waking up in this world.
Yurim gasped, realization hitting her all at once.
This was it.
"So this is how I came here…" Yurim whispered.
"Seems like you're happy in this world," the tree murmured.
"H-happy?" Yurim's voice shook. "Why did you do this to me?
My life was perfect before! Please—send me back!"
Her words broke as they left her.
"Oh, poor soul…" the tree whispered, calm and distant.
"You've struggled here. But every world gives something in return. The only way back… is to sacrifice the most precious thing you've found in this one."
Yurim's face drained of color.
"What…? That's impossible. I don't have anything precious in this cruel world. Please… don't do this to me."
A soft laugh followed — gentle, like leaves brushing against one another.
"Your friend is waiting," the tree said. "Go back."
The glow faded.
The tree stood silent, ordinary once more.
Yurim remained frozen, heart racing.
"Sacrifice… something precious…" she whispered, clutching her chest.
"But what could that be…?"
––
Back at the shore, waves crashed as Rian fought the current.
"Now—give me your hand!" he shouted again, stretching farther.
His fingers brushed Mira's — and this time, he caught her wrist.
With everything he had left, he pulled.
Mira gasped, clinging to his shoulder as he dragged her onto the sand. She collapsed, coughing violently.
"You're okay… you're okay now," Rian said hoarsely, dropping beside her.
Then he looked around.
Yurim was gone.
"Yurim?" Panic crept into his voice. He scanned the beach.
"Yurim!"
Only the sea answered, roaring endlessly beneath the gray sky.
Then—
"Rian!"
He turned sharply.
Yurim ran toward them, breathless. Relief washed over him, the tension in his shoulders finally breaking.
She knelt beside Mira and gently patted her back.
"Are you okay, Mira?"
"I'm okay now…" Mira said weakly. "Where's Rian?"
"I'm here," Rian said quietly, crouching beside them.
Mira looked at him and gave a small, tired smile.
"Thank you… for saving me."
Rian nodded.
Then his eyes shifted to Yurim.
"Where did you go?"
Yurim hesitated.
"I went to look for help," she said quickly, avoiding his gaze. "But I couldn't find anyone."
Rian frowned, about to speak — but Yurim stood and gently pulled Mira up.
"We should go home now," she said, a little too fast.
Mira nodded, still shaken.
They walked along the shore together, waves brushing their feet, the air heavy with what had almost been lost.
Yurim glanced back once.
In the distance, the tree stood still, dark against the fading light.
The wind brushed her face, carrying a faint whisper.
Sacrifice something valuable…
She turned away, forcing a small smile as she caught up with them.
But deep inside, a quiet ache had already taken root — one she didn't yet understand.