루루는 조용히 고개를 끄덕였어요. 그리고 눈을 감고 잠시 생각에 잠기더니 천천히 말했어요.
“내 소원은 내 친구들과 함께 영원히 행복하게 지내는 거야. 우리가 서로를 잃지 않고, 매일 웃으며 지낼 수 있으면 좋겠어.”
별이는 따뜻한 빛으로 루루를 감싸 안으며 말했어요.
“정말 예쁜 소원이야. 약속할게, 루루. 네가 바라는 행복이 항상 너와 친구들에게 머물도록 내가 힘을 다할게.”
별이는 하늘로 서서히 떠오르기 시작했어요.
루루는 아쉬운 마음에 손을 흔들며 작별 인사를 했어요.
“잘 가, 별이야!”
별이는 마지막으로 밝게 빛나며 대답했어요.
“안녕, 루루. 내가 언제나 하늘에서 너를 지켜보고 있을게. 그리고 네가 내 빛이 필요할 때면 언제든 찾아올게.”
점점 더 높이 떠오르는 별이를 올려다보며, 루루는 작은 목소리로 속삭였어요.
“별이야… 고마워. 안녕!”
별이가 하늘의 별들 사이로 사라진 후에도, 루루는 하늘을 오랫동안 바라봤어요.
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Lulu and Byul-ee entered the small house together.
The sky was filled with starlight, but among them, Byul-ee shone the brightest.
Lulu smiled and said, “Byul-ee, thank you so much for today. Even though I got lost, I wasn’t scared because you were with me.”
Byul-ee glowed gently and replied, “I enjoyed my time with you too, Lulu. You were really brave.”
After a brief silence, Byul-ee asked, “Lulu, will you tell me your true wish now? The deepest wish in your heart—I’ll grant it for you.”
Lulu nodded quietly. She closed her eyes and thought for a moment before speaking slowly. “My wish is… to always be happy with my friends. I hope we never lose each other and can laugh together every day.”
Byul-ee wrapped Lulu in a warm glow and said, “That’s a truly beautiful wish. I promise, Lulu. I’ll do everything I can to make sure the happiness you wish for stays with you and your friends.”
Byul-ee began to rise slowly into the sky.
Feeling a twinge of sadness, Lulu waved her hand and said goodbye. “Goodbye, Byul-ee! You’ll always be in my heart.”
Byul-ee shone brightly one last time and replied, “Goodbye, Lulu. I’ll always be watching over you from the sky. And whenever you need my light, I’ll come back to you.”
As Byul-ee rose higher and higher, blending in with the stars, Lulu looked up and whispered softly, “Byul-ee, thank you so much. Goodbye.”
Even after Byul-ee disappeared among the stars, Lulu kept gazing at the sky for a long time.
