Meadow's POV
No one spoke after that. The silence was not empty. It was heavy, filled with the understanding of what had just changed. Before now, every decision had been about systems, patterns, and consequences that spread across the city like ripples in water. You could measure them. You could predict them. You could justify them. But this... This was different.
The next loss will be personal. The words did not leave your mind. They stayed there, sharp and clear, repeating themselves in a slow, steady rhythm that matched your heartbeat. Lily took a step back from the console, her arms wrapping tightly around herself. "No," she said again, softer this time, like she was trying to convince herself. "No, this is not... they cannot just pick someone."
