Phoenix reluctantly pulled away from Leonard, though her hands still rested on his arms, as if making sure he was real. She couldn't stop staring at him, memorizing every detail—the silver streaks in his hair, the warmth in his ocean-blue eyes, the gentle smile he always had for her.
Leonard, too, studied her, his gaze soft with both pride and sorrow. "Look at you," he murmured, brushing a lock of her dark hair behind her ear. "You've become so strong… just as I knew you would."
Phoenix swallowed past the lump in her throat. "How… how are you here?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.
Leonard let out a quiet chuckle. "It seems even death isn't enough to keep a father away from his daughter." His expression turned serious, thoughtful. "I don't remember much after I died, but when I woke again, I knew one thing for certain—I had to find you."
