"I've got you," Elio said.
With a fluid movement from the swift, helium propelled them upward, the wind roaring around them. Zara clung to him, her mind struggling to process what was happening.
They landed softly on the parapet, Elio still holding her in his arms. For a moment, the world seemed to stop. Only they existed, their gazes intertwined, their hearts beating in unison.
"Elio," Zara whispered, her voice breaking. "You're alive."
He smiled, a smile that contained all the relief and joy in the world. "I couldn't just die, could I?"
Tears began to fall freely down Zara's cheeks. Without thinking, she relaxed forward, resting her face in Elio's chest.
He hugged her tightly, his own eyes moistening. "It's okay," he murmured, gently stroking her hair. "I'm here. I'm home."