Crystal Tear

Pino lies wounded on the bed,his breaths heavy and unstable.
The young girl—once the old woman—sits by his side,holding his hands,gently giving him water.
Hana stands nearby,her heart pounding.She doesn’t know what to do.
Pino coughs deeply…The girl leans in slightly, brushing his hair aside,bringing her face closer to his…
A quiet moment…And then,a tear slides down from Hana’s eye.Not from fear, not from weakness—from the depth of empathy.
When the drop hits the ground, it makes a sound.Not like water…like glass newly formed.
Hana looks,her eyes widen:
The tear has turned into crystal.Small, clear, but glowing with a warm light from within.
The young girl lifts her head,her smile is gentle,as if she knows the world had been missing this very moment.
– “You found it… without even searching.When you truly felt it.”