The only thing left is hope

“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” Even though Noria died and her world is still the same, there is one thing left and that is hope. Sanja made it to Noria’s mother with the seven discs and the quote that ends the novel is “This morning the world is dust and ashes, but not devoid of hope.” There is a lack of water, people have to wear insect hoods just to step outside their houses, the military is an intimidating and terrifying force controlling everyone’s life, both of Noria’s parents vanished from her life, but in the end Noria stays true to herself. She refuses Taro’s offer of working for him in exchange of her life being restored. Noria does not give in to Taro even when that is the only option left for her. She knows there is nothing left for her anymore. What does she have? Her parents are gone, she doesn’t know where her best friend is, and now she is held captive in her own home. Noria was courageous and she died a noble death. Even though water has no beginning and end, death does. Death has a beginning and an end and it was Noria’s end that has a profound and intense impact on all of us. She was a girl who followed in her father’s footsteps and fulfilled his wishes and ultimately gets killed because of the choices she made. These choices make Noria who she is and it is the choices we make in life that leave a mark. Noria wanted to leave a mark and she did. What is left at the end of this novel is grief and heartache; we feel a pain in our hearts for the fate that was bestowed upon Noria. But something else is left at the end of this novel and that is hope; there is hope that things can become better, but it won’t happen by itself, we have to set our positive changes in action, so that there will always be light even when it is too dark to see it.