The hallway felt longer on the way out, though Willow could not say why. A few people looked up as she passed, their expressions registering recognition without expectation. Some nodded in passing. One woman offered a tentative smile that lingered a fraction longer than necessary. No one asked questions. No one attempted to reopen a chapter that had already closed, and Willow appreciated the restraint more than any farewell speech could have offered.
Outside, the air met her fully, warmer than the building's filtered atmosphere and less controlled. The city moved around her without acknowledgment, traffic flowing steadily, voices overlapping in fragments of unrelated lives. The world continued at its own pace, indifferent and unburdened, and she felt herself match its rhythm without effort or adjustment. The box in her hands felt present but not heavy, its weight balanced in a way that mirrored her own internal state.
