The next morning, Mira woke to soft knocking.
Not the harsh kind of urgency, but the type that carried rhythm gentle, familiar.
Still half-asleep, she padded toward the door, oversized sweater clinging to one shoulder. When she opened it, a small gasp escaped her lips.
"Surprise, loser."
Standing there with two suitcases and a tired grin was So Ri, Mira's best friend the only one who had never left, even when everyone else had.
"So Ri!" Mira blinked, her voice breaking in disbelief before turning into a laugh. She stepped forward and wrapped her arms around her. "You're really back?"
"Of course I'm back. Midterms are over, my internship ended early, and I missed this dump." So Ri looked past Mira into the apartment, scrunching her nose. "God, it smells like lavender trauma in here."
Mira laughed through her tears. It was the first laugh that felt real in days.
They dragged the suitcases inside and dropped them by the door. So Ri plopped onto the couch like she owned the place because technically, she did. They had moved in together a year ago, but So Ri had returned to their hometown for a while due to family matters. Mira had been alone for months now. And it had shown.
"You've been crying," So Ri said gently. She reached out and tucked a strand of Mira's hair behind her ear. "What happened?"
Mira sat beside her. The exhaustion caught up in one long exhale. "A lot. I'll tell you everything. But right now…. I'm just glad you're here."
So Ri leaned back and stretched. "Well, I'm staying. You don't have to carry the world on your back anymore, Mira. Not alone."
There was a pause. Then Mira asked softly, "So Ri?"
"Hmm?"
"Do you.… think people can change? Like.… really change? Even if they come from terrible families?"
So Ri looked at her for a long moment. "I think people can choose to be better than what raised them. But it's hard. And it hurts. Especially when you're trying to figure out who you are without the pain."
Mira nodded slowly, the words settling deep.
Then So Ri grinned. "Anyway, enough deep talk. I brought snacks, gossip, and I'm dying to know about the two hot cousins you've been very suspiciously not texting me about."
Mira blinked. "Wait how do you know about?"
"I might have stalked their company profile. And their faces. Daily."
Before Mira could react, So Ri looked around dramatically. "By the way, I'm thinking of changing our apartment. At least to something bigger than this...."
"Why?" Mira asked, eyebrows raised.
"Because," So Ri sniffed the air with mock disgust, "I cannot stand this lavender trauma smell every single day."
Mira laughed again, freer this time. Her chest felt lighter.
"Let's think about it," she said. "But where would we find a safer apartment?"
So Ri grinned. "I know someone who deals with property stuff. Plus, we've got your uncle too.... though that might come with…. strings."
They both laughed really laughed.
That day, there was happiness again.
Outside, the sky was still grey. But inside, with So Ri's return, something warm and bright had sparked again.
Someone was on Mira's side.
And for tonight, that was enough.