THE MORNING AFTER THE FIRST JOY STRUCTURE DAY
The city woke up arguing.
That was how I knew we'd survived.
Not panicking.
Not worshipping.
Not rioting.
Arguing.
At breakfast tables.
On trams.
In schoolyards.
Across dock ledgers and bakery counters and district offices.
People were arguing about the question the Editor had put in the sky.
**BEGIN AGAIN INTO WHAT?**
Some called it sabotage.
Some called it honest.
Some said Sera should have answered directly and put everyone out of their misery.
Some said her refusal had been the most democratic act of the whole day.
Perfect.
Annoying.
Inconclusive.
Alive.
I stood in the archive annex reading the first wave of public reaction summaries while Mira sorted responses by district tone.
Bellwake: thoughtful, low panic, high discussion.
Portstead: cynical but engaged, moderate humor response.
Greyhaven: procedural concern, surprising resilience.
