Silence fell over the table.
Neo's thoughts circled in restless loops.
Every time he tried to settle on one, another came and pushed it aside.
He glanced toward Moraine, hoping for some kind of answer, but she kept her gaze lowered.
It was as if she had no intention of speaking, no matter how heavily the quiet pressed down between them.
How does she feel? he wondered. Searching for Elizabeth, doing something like that… it's not for herself. She's doing it for me.
The realization left a dull ache in his chest.
He bit his lip before forcing himself to smile faintly.
"Thank you," he said quietly.
The words seemed to hang in the air without anywhere to go.
Moraine did not answer.
She simply shifted in her chair, and ate.
The atmosphere between them became tense.
They all focused on their food for a few minutes. The sound of cutlery filled the room in place of conversation.
Percival was the first to break the silence.
"We can't meet Julie anymore," he said.
