Morgan breathed slowly. The connection between him and Silvia hit him like a whirlwind.

  — I’m sorry.

  The dining hall was quieter now; the other members had finished breakfast. Only Morgan and Silvia remained.

  Silvia ran her fingers along the white bracelet.

  — My father controlled every detail of my life, — she said. — When he died, I didn’t know what to do. You can imagine what happened next.

  Every day felt the same. I remember being drunk in a dark bar. Laughing too loudly, clinging to men who didn’t seem to care who I was. A performance. Pretending everything was fine. But every day I had to go back to that apartment… with all those memories.

  My strength started to fade. Some days I couldn’t even get out of bed.

  Then I started surfing. Hooked up to a cockpit in a filthy room, eyes glowing artificially.

  Silvia sliding a needle into her own arm.

  That feeling… the simulation… the senses altered by the serum… I lived for that for a long time.

  — It was a vortex of shit… — she said. — Until I ended up here, and everything changed.

  Her eyes were watery, but there was a restrained smile.

  — It felt like a miracle when Thomas found me. One of the rare times I left the apartment to buy food. He saw me. Saw the pain in me… the emptiness no one else noticed.

  She took a deep breath.

  — He said that here I could heal the wounds the city, Gentech, the world… had caused me.

  She paused.

  — And for a while… I believed it. I felt saved.

  Morgan tried to smile, but couldn’t hold it.

  — Thomas gave me this, — Silvia said, touching the bracelet. — He made me feel important again. Gave me a new family.

  Silence fell between them.

  Then Morgan spoke.

  — It wasn’t just in Asia.

  Silvia frowned.

  — What?

  — The tests, — Morgan said. — They happened in many places. Even here.

  We found a small gas bomb in the forgotten basement of a school. Between old desks and dusty chalkboards stacked against the walls.

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  At the center, a device releasing gas.

  Beside the toxic hazard symbol, the Gentech logo.

  The gas rose through a ventilation shaft.

  The shaft led into classrooms filled with children.

  Among them, my son, Mick.

  I remember him lying in the hospital bed. Me holding his hand.

  — What happened? — Silvia’s voice echoed in the present.

  — The treatment didn’t work. Gentech poisoned those kids for nothing. — Morgan’s voice faltered. — The heart monitor showed the beats growing weaker. I still remember the feeling of holding his cold body in that hospital bed. I’ve never felt as alone as I did in that moment. Scientists walked in and took notes. The test failed, and the subject was discarded.

  In the chaos of the city, Randy appeared at the corner and walked toward the coffee stand more slowly than usual.

  He leaned against the worn wooden counter, resting his weight on his elbows.

  The attendant recognized him immediately and stepped closer.

  — Morning.

  — Morning. The usual, doctor?

  Randy simply nodded.

  The attendant poured him black coffee.

  — Huh… you’re alone today?

  Randy instinctively looked around, as if still expecting Morgan to emerge from the crowd.

  — Seems like it…

  The attendant shrugged and returned to work.

  Randy held the cup but didn’t drink right away.

  The sound of cars, the smell of coffee, even the warmth of the mug in his hands—thinking about Morgan made all his senses pause for a moment.

  When he finally brought the coffee to his lips, it tasted more bitter than usual.

  He stood silent for a few seconds, eyes fixed on some random point in the busy street.

  His brow furrowed.

  — What is that kid doing? — he muttered to himself, scratching his forehead in concern.

  The street carried on as usual. Loud.

  Indifferent.

  Back in the dining hall, Morgan’s eyes were filled with tears.

  — The story never went public, — he said. — They covered it all up.

  He tried to hold back the tears, but failed.

  Silvia moved closer to comfort him.

  Morgan wiped his face.

  — I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me. This place…

  Silvia smiled gently.

  — This place heals.

  Morgan took a deep breath, trying to compose himself.

  Thomas approached the table.

  Silvia made a small bow.

  — Good morning, Morgan, — Thomas said. — I hope you had a good night.

  — Yes. Thank you for the hospitality.

  Thomas smiled.

  — Shall we? — he said, turning to Silvia.

  She stood and moved to his side.

  — Would you like to join us, Morgan?

  Morgan frowned.

  — Join you how?

  Thomas laughed.

  — Not the community. Our meditation. A morning meditation is the key to an enlightened day.

  Morgan hesitated.

  — I think I’ll pass.

  Silvia held his gaze.

  — Come on, Morgan. I promise it’ll be good.

  They exchanged a long look.

  Morgan stood.

  Thomas did not seem pleased.

  — That’s it! — Silvia said. — Time to move forward.

  The three of them left the dining hall.