George was lying on the grass with Carol, his best friend. They were playing with a leaf, pretending it was a tiny boat. But even as he laughed, his mind wandered to Mariana.
A few days ago, she had taken him aside in the park, her tone soft and serious.
"George," she said, "I can't explain everything right now… but I'm here for you. I always have been. And I want us to be a team. What do you say?"
He had nodded eagerly. "Can I help in your secret missions?"
She smiled and tousled his hair. "Some of them, yes. Others… you'll understand someday."
Since then, George had been given little missions: observing plant growth in the backyard, mapping a hidden garden near school, and writing down names of rare herbs. It made him feel important. It made him feel like he was part of something much bigger.
Lucia and John noticed the change. George had a new glow, a quiet joy they hadn't seen in a long time. They didn't ask questions — they trusted Mariana, as if Mary's soul still lived within her. And maybe, just maybe, it did.
Meanwhile, Mariana continued to grow — in the university, in the tasks given by the system, and in George's heart. Their connection deepened quietly, like roots intertwining beneath the earth. Invisible. Strong. Unbreakable.