Spring arrived. A year and a half since the accident.
Wanyin celebrated with a party. Small gathering at her apartment. Xiao Ling, Sister Mei, Mrs. Zhou, Dr. Wang, Meilin, Chen Li who'd flown in from Shanghai.
The women who'd saved her. Who'd helped her rebuild.
"Speech!" Xiao Ling called out.
Wanyin stood up, glass of wine in hand. She'd learned to drink again, moderately, socially. Learned she could enjoy things without losing control.
"A year and a half ago I woke up in a hospital with no memory and no future. I thought I'd lost everything. But really, I'd been given a gift. A chance to see clearly. To choose differently."
She looked around the room. "You all gave me that choice. You showed me there was another way. That I didn't have to go back to being small and controlled and scared. So thank you. For seeing me when I couldn't see myself."
They toasted. Laughed. Shared stories.
Meilin pulled Wanyin aside later.
"I have news. The foundation got a major donation. Anonymous donor. Five million yuan."
"What? Who—"
"I have my suspicions but I can't prove anything. Let's just say someone with a guilty conscience and a lot of money wanted to make amends."
Shen Jingwei. It had to be.
Wanyin's first instinct was to refuse it. Send it back.
But then she thought about the sixty women they'd helped. The hundreds more who needed help.
"We take it," she said. "And we use it to help as many women as possible. That's the best revenge anyway."
The donation allowed them to expand. Open a second office. Hire more staff. Provide more services.
Within six months they'd helped another hundred women.
Each one a victory. A life reclaimed.
Wanyin's blog grew to thirty thousand followers. Publishers reached out about writing a book. Television producers wanted to interview her.
She said yes to some, no to others. Learning that she could set boundaries. Could choose what served her and decline the rest.
One day a modeling agency called.
"We'd love to work with you. Real body positive campaigns. Authentic storytelling."
Wanyin almost laughed. Full circle.
"I'm not interested in modeling anymore. But thank you."
"What are you interested in?"
"Living. Helping others live. That's enough."