As the crowd slowly began to disperse—some quietly walking back toward their private homes, others drifting toward the warm, golden glow spilling out from the Great Hall—I caught sight of two familiar figures near the edge of the ridge.
I made my way through the remaining crowd, stepping over the cool stone until I reached Sam and Liz. A wide, genuine smile broke across my face as I stopped beside them.
"How are you two doing?" I asked softly, my eyes instantly drifting down to Liz. "Liz, you look amazing."
And she truly did. The pale, translucent hue that had plagued her skin for months was gone, replaced by a flush of rosy color returning to her cheeks. The hollow shadow that had lingered in her eyes for so long was replaced by a bright, lively spark that practically radiated off her.
