Ryan knelt in the garden, his fingers hovering over the silver flower.
The petals glowed softly, pulsing in rhythm with his heartbeat. In the center, a tiny reflection of a child's face smiled at him—Mira's face, younger than he remembered, innocent and full of light.
"Dada," the flower whispered. "I'm still here."
Ryan's throat tightened. "I can see you."
"Don't be sad. I'm not gone. I'm just... different."
"Different how?"
"I'm part of the echoes now. Part of the old world. But I'm still your daughter."
He reached out and touched the petals. They were warm, alive, vibrating with silver energy.
"When are you coming back?"
"Soon. The echoes need me right now. But they're learning to stand on their own. When they're ready, I'll come home."
Ryan sat in the grass, staring at the flo
