"Linda." The name came out urgent, almost desperate. "What happened to Linda?"
The panic hit him like a physical blow. How long had he been sitting here? How could he have been so absorbed in Lilith's story that he'd forgotten...
He scrambled to his feet, ignoring the way his exhausted body protested the sudden movement.
"How could I forget about her?" The words came out like self-accusation.
"She's out there… alone with those feelings the system shoved into her. Hurt. Confused. Probably thinking I rejected her… or used her."
His hands were shaking now, fear and guilt crashing over him in waves.
"I've been sitting here God knows how long. Just sitting here while she could be..."
He moved toward the door, but Lilith's hand caught his arm gently.
"Alex." Lilith's voice was soft, calm, reassuring. "She's fine."
"You don't know that." His voice cracked slightly. "Your manipulation, the feelings you forced into her... what if they got worse? What if she..."
