Felix reached for the reserve figure and stopped with his finger above it.
He could make the room feel better in six words.
I’ll cover whatever is left over.
People would straighten. Somebody would smile. The map would acquire an invisible line from every unfinished task to his pocket.
Then the outlet would remain exactly the same size.
He withdrew his hand.
“Show me what actually changed.”
Tamsin slid the closure notice beside the morning plan. Two expected balancing paths were now unavailable. Another station had not replied. A fourth showed a fault its local crew was checking.
