A rose.
Gary had pulled it out from his painting, and now it was resting in Mary's hands.
"So we all can leave together now, right?" Gary asked with a grin can light the darkness. Mary gaped at her trembling hands, at the perfect replica of the rose, at Ib's intent gaze, as if saying: "We won't leave you behind."
"Yes," Mary replied, her smile crooked. "Yes, we may."
The mural never felt so fulfilling. Three silhouettes, standing side by side, each with a rose in hand.
And the universe was before her, something waiting for her to seek it, but Mary did not know how to react.
"After we made it to the other side, let's see each other again." Ib said.
"It's a promise." Gary laughed. "Again."
"Mhmm...See you again." A tiny whisper left Mary's lips as she wiped her wet cheek with the back of her hand. "Thanks...Gary..."
Gary did not hear her exact words, but from the tone of her voice he could tell what it might be. "No problem." He said.
Ib counting to three and just like that, they vanished without a trace, forever.
It would take a while for Ib to wake up and find herself lying on the cold floor of the museum. Looking up, she could see her parents' anxious expressions in full view.
It would take more time for her to gather her incoherent thoughts and fathom her scattered memories. She would return to her usual life routine, except with deeper scars to live with.
But the faint memory of a promise will always linger in the back of her mind, waiting for the day she would fulfill it. The promise of a reunion.