I hear voices in the distance as I walk down the halls.

Room 12-30. The door is open.

his parents sit on either side of his bed. For the first time they look up and make eye contact with me. His mother has color in her face. And the first thing I think? She's returned from the dead. My little rag doll has come back too. I see him truly alive for the first time, smiling and responsive.

"You're better," I blurt out.

"They gave me ice cream," he says, as though that's what made the difference. "And they said they'd bring more if I finished all they gave me."

"You're so lucky!"

"He is," his dad says, dropping his head. "We never expected . . ." His voice cracks and he turns unexpectedly, staring hard out the window.

"We were all rooting for you," I say. It comes out too loud and euphoric, but no one seems to notice.

"They said I could go home soon," Tae says.

"We're supposed to go to Seoul for a week's vacation," his mother says. "If he continues to get better, they'll discharge him and consider letting us go." She shakes her head. "He talks nonstop about going to the top of the Seoul's Tower."

"That's wonderful," I say, looking down at the flowers that I forgot I was holding. I reach out awkwardly and give them to her and she touches my hand lightly.

"I'll come back tomorrow with some games," I whisper to Tae, as I turn quickly to go.

I stop at the nurses' station outside and see Jisoo. "I can't believe it," I whisper. "He made a complete turnaround."

"We were all surprised," she says.

I think of what Yoongi said.

"Children have energy, strong spirits, great resources. Nature wants them to survive. By instinct, they fight. And there is . . . healing."

I'm tempted to run to the beach to tell him.

Only I think he already knows.

° ° ° ° ° 

Even though I'm not officially on duty, I read to some of the other kids, then go the pharmacy for an older woman who forgot to bring toothpaste and doesn't like the hospital brand. As I'm leaving at the end of the day, an ambulance pulls up.

"Car accident," a nurse tells the desk.

I rush to leave before they come in. I unlock my bike and pedal fast, taking the path along the beach.