Another hour crawled past before Jared finally severed the last filament of energy and let his arms drop. Exhaustion crashed over like surf, nearly sank to his knees, yet the smile that curved his mouth was radiant.

Kishor burst forward. Inside the still-glimmering array a woman of balanced figure and fresh, delicate beauty opened eyes.

Though pallor lingered from the metamorphosis, the years had gifted expression with a mature, gentle grace, yet Jared could still see the spirited girl named Alice.

“Alice…” Kishor’s voice cracked as reached out, afraid even his breath might scatter the vision. “Kishor, it’s really you,” whispered, smile shy and sweet, a flawless echo of the girl had been.

“Yes, it’s me, Alice…” Kishor could hold back no longer.

He wrapped in an unbreakable embrace, tears spilling as years of distance, hurt, and silence dissolved between their joined heartbeats. They clung to each other as though the decades themselves might be folded and mended by their arms.

Jared watched the reunited lovers weep against each other’s shoulders, then slipped from the chamber quietly. They deserved this moment, and at last, a chance to begin again.