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“Keep going,” Jihoon answered. He pulled off his jacket and bunched it under Yena’s neck.

Miyoung pushed on the molten-hot bead with all of her might.

Yena’s body shuddered like waves of energy ran through her. Her mouth wrenched open, and her wailing pierced the air.

Then, echoing silence. Yena’s body no longer shook. And the bead was gone.

Miyoung watched Yena’s face. “Eomma?”

Her mother’s eyes fluttered open, and Miyoung let out a breath of relief. “It worked.”

Yena’s cracked lips tilted into a sweet smile. She gripped Miyoung’s hands.

“We’ll get you somewhere you can rest, Eomma.”

“You haven’t called me that since you were a baby.” Yena’s voice sounded faint, like it was cast from some faraway place.

“I’ll call you that every day if you want.”

“I’m proud of you, Daughter,” Yena said. “I never told you that enough.”

“Well, you have a chance to now.” Miyoung’s tears caught in Yena’s hair like falling stars.

“There are so many things I never got a chance to tell you”—Yena paused to catch her breath before continuing—“because of my pride.”

“Why are you talking like this is it? Don’t you get it? I did it. I saved you.” Miyoung gripped her mother’s hand, a desperate fear taking root in her.

“I’m sorry for so many things that I can’t make up for now.”

“Don’t talk like that. Don’t talk like you’re still dying,” Mi-young demanded. “You’re scaring me.”

“No, nothing can scare my brave daughter.” Yena sighed the words. “Miyoung, who are you?”

Miyoung tried to reply, and it came out a sob. She took a deep, shuddering breath and tried again. “Gu Yena’s daughter.”

“And what does that make you?”

“Smart.”

“And?”

“Beautiful.”

“And?”

“Strong.”

“And loved.”

Miyoung felt when her mother’s life left her body. Yena’s cold hands loosened around hers. Her body let out a final sigh with the relief of letting go.

“No,” Miyoung sobbed. “I saved you. I saved you. I saved you.” She repeated the words again and again. A mantra she couldn’t give up.

Then she did stop. And she wept.

She wept as Yena’s body faded to nothing. Not even leaving dust behind, but becoming air and vapor.

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