She mimics Mahalia's gesture, feeling the grains shift around her hand like all the times she's come to collect it before. But this time is different. She doesn't draw it in, but pushes out. With her mind, her feelings.

When she opens her eyes, the dunes are gone. Replaced by sparkling blue-green water as far as the eye can see. Coconut trees have sprung up around them, and the familiar line of that wooden bridge leads out to the small island she remembers so well.

It's real. She squeezes Mahalia's hand, feeling her heart beat even faster.

"It worked! It really worked!"