Luminous Nocturne

Chan Juan felt a surge of mixed emotions as she reached for the broken pieces of Ani. The doll had been her faithful companion through many hardships, but now it was reduced to a pile of porcelain shards. She wondered if this was a sign of how fleeting and fragile beauty was in this world.

Chan Juan's eyes brimmed with tears as she murmured, "Don't worry, Mei Lin. It happens to the best of things. It's just… I never thought it would end like this."

Mei Lin, frantic to make amends, blurted out, "I'll fix it, I swear. I'm so sorry for destroying something so dear to you."

As they collected the shattered pieces, the room, once a haven of nostalgia, became a mute witness to the cracks in both the porcelain and the feelings among the three cousins. Ani's ruined shape was covered in a gentle cloth, her porcelain bits neatly placed.