[ maybe the black smoke is proof that mia really does remember. maya can't help but let a wisp of black smoke escape her mouth in turn as mia's face contorts with pain and anger -- as some part of maya could feel the same, if maya didn't blame herself from her own abandonment. ]

[ maya's already reaching out for mia in turn -- gripping her as tightly as she can manage. she lets mia take her face, staring at her. ]

[ her heart swells and almost feels like it could burst -- she stares at mia, a smile spreading across her face. ]

I knew you were in there! Nothing could take you away.... not even this place. You would never let me down! And you still haven't!

[ she knew things went wrong in the night show. she didn't know the details -- her mind hadn't been able to withstand it, but she knew something horrible had happened to mia. ]

[ and now she knows what. but the thing is? nothing can really defeat mia. not even this. so it's not a surprise that mia regained herself. ]

[ maya doesn't deserve her kind words, but she hears them. her eyes well up -- tears of joy, not pain. ]

[ then, she's throwing herself at the other woman, to embrace her, as everything goes to flames around them. ]