The world moved fast. Headlines blazed, crowds cheered, justice celebrated.
But in the quiet of night, Hana stood alone on the balcony, the city lights flickering below. Freedom felt foreign, like a new skin she hadn't grown into yet.
Mi-Ho stepped out, his presence grounding. "You should rest."
She turned to him, voice fragile. "Why didn't you ever leave? Through all of it?"
His silence stretched, heavy with meaning. Then, softly: "Because somewhere along the way… protecting you stopped being duty."
Her breath caught. The storm was gone. What lingered now was something far more dangerous—hope.