rifice.SheturoMeiLingandLiZifeng，hereyesfilledwithgratitudeandresolve.

＂Thankyouboth，foreverything，＂shesaid，hervoicesteadydespitetheemotionsswirlingwithinher.

MeiLinghuggedhertightly.＂Besafe，Sukie.Andremember，we，llalwaysbehereforyou.＂

LiZifengnodded，hisexpressionserious.＂Goodluck，Sukie.You’vegotthis.＂

Takingadeepbreath，Sukiesteppedthroughtheportal.Thetransitionwasbothexhiratinganddisorienting，theworldaroundhershiftingandtransfinakaleidoscopeofcolorsaions.Whenthelightfaded，shefoundherselfstandinginthefamiliarsurroundingsofthemountainvilge.

Thevilgersgreetedherwithjoyandrelief，theirfaithinherunwavering.Sukie’sheartracedasshesearchedforHanFengling，hereyessingthecrowd.Whenshefinallysawhim，standingattheedgeofthevilgewithalookofdisbeliefandjoyonhisface，shefeltawaveofemotionwashoverher.

“Fengling！”shecried，runningtohim.

Hecaughtherinhisarms，holdiightly.“Sukie，youcameback.”

“IpromisedIwould，”shesaid，tearsstreamingdownherface.“AndIalwayskeepmypromises.”

Theystoodthere，edineachother’sembrace，theweightoftheirjourneyliftingfromtheirshoulders.Thelovetheysharedhadbroughtthembacktogether，andnow，theycouldfinallybeginthelifetheyhadalwaysdreamedof.